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NORMAN'S 
NEW ORLEANS AND ENVIRONS ; 

CONTAINING A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH 
OF THE 

TERRITORY AND STATE OF LOUISIANA, 

AND THE 

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, 

FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME : 
PRESENTING 

A COMPLETE GUIDE 

TO ALL SUBJECTS OF GENERAL INTEREST IN THE SOUTHERN 
METROPOLIS; 

WITH X 

CORRECT AND IMPROVED PLAN OF THE CITT, PICTORIAL ILLtTSTRA- 
TIONS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC. 




NEW ORLEANS : 

PUBLISHED BY B. M. NORMAN. 

NEW YORK, D. APPLETON & CO. ; PHILADELPHIA, GEO. S. APPLETON 
BOSTON, JAS. MUNROE & CO.; CINCINNATI, H. W. DERBY & CO. J 
ST. LOUIS, HALSALL & COLLET ; MOBILE, J. M. SUMWALT & CO. 

1845. 



Entered according- to Ac: of Coiigress, in me year i^ w .•■ 

B. M. NORMAN, 

in the Clerk's office of the District Court of tbe Sowme'-a 
District of New York. 



'A 



Van Norden, Printer, 39 William etree. 






DEDICATED 

TO THE 

CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS, 

WITH 

True Sentiments of Respect, 

BY THEIR 

HUMBLE SERVANT. 

Iew Orleans. Ociober, 1845. 



PREFACE. 



To the stranger visiting New Orleans, and to those 
abroad who may feel an interest in the metropolis of the 
great South-West, no apology may be urged for the present 
work. Curiosity, in the one case, and necessity, in the 
other, will prove a sufficient plea, and prepare the way for 
that favorable reception, which it has been the aim of the 
publisher it should deserve. And, judging from the interest 
he has taken in compiling it, he flatters himself it will be 
found a communicative and agreeable companion to both 
the above classes of readers, and to the public in general 

The tables and index have been prepared with great care, 
and will be found highly convenient to those who wish to 
consult the work with reference to any particular subject of 
which it treats. All such subjects are there so arranged and 
classified, that the reader may see, at a glance, where they 
are to be found. 

The engravings were executed by Messrs. Shields & 
Hammond, after original drawings, made expressly for this 
work, by Mr. Cowell. The plan of the city was engraved 
by the same artists, after an original draught by Mr. Mull- 
hausen 



VI PREFACE. 

To several gentlemen, who have kindly aided the publish- 
er i:i gathering materials for the work, he would here ex- 
press his grateful acknowledgements. For the historical 
facts embodied in the volume, he is indebted to several 
works on the history of Louisiana, and the discovery and 
earlv settlement of our country 



NORMAN'S 
NEW ORLEANS AND ENVIRONS. 



A BRIfiF SKETCH OF THE DISCOVERY AND TERRITORIAL 
HISTORY OF LOUISIANA. 




TOMOWEN. PINXT. 

Ue Soto's discovery of the Mississippi. 



Louisiana is the name given by the French, lo 
all that extensive tract of land, lying West of the 
Mississippi River, which was ceded by them to 
the United States in 1803. The line of its west- 
ern boundary follows the Sabine River to the 32d 
degree of north latitude ; thence, due north to the 



TERRITORIAL HISTORY 



Red River ; along that stream westerly to the 
meridian of 100 west longitude ; thence due north 
to the Arkansas River, ascending that to its source ; 
thence due north to the 42d degree of latitude ; 
and along that, parallel to the Pacific Ocean. Its 
northern boundary is a matter of dispute between 
the United States and Great Britain, and the dis- 
cussion, at the present moment is somewhat ex- 
citing and ominous. It is the only question in 
relation to any part of our border, which has not 
been amicably adjusted by treaty. We claim 
the boundary formed by a line drawn from the 
Lake of the Woods, in the 49th degree of latitude, 
due west to the Rocky Mountains, thence to the 
parallel of 54, and on that to the Pacific. The 
British, on the other hand, claim that part, lying 
west of the Rocky Mountains, and north of the 
46th parallel, or the latitude of the Columbia 
River. Our claim to the whole of this Territory, 
tlie part in dispute being called the Oregon, is 
based upon priority of discovery, and purchase. 
The British claim the northern portion by right 
of possession. The question has been held in 
suspense for several years, under a treaty of joint 
occupancy, which is now about to terminate. The 
question of ownership and jurisdiction, will pro- 
bably be adjusted definitely in the course of a few 
years. We trust it may be done without the ne- 
cessity of an appeal to arms. 



OF LOUISIANA. 9 

The vast domain, included within the above 
named boundaries, contains more than twelve 
hundred thousand square miles. It is about six 
times the size of France, and nearly twice as 
large as the whole territory embraced in the thir- 
teen original States of the Union — an empire, in 
itself sufficiently extensive to satisfy the ambition 
of any ordinary people. 

The discoveries of Columbus, and his immedi- 
ate successors, were confined to the islands in and 
about the Gulf of Mexico, and a part of the ad- 
jacent coast of the two Continents. The immense 
tracts that lay inland, stretching thousands of 
miles towards the setting sun, were unknown and 
unexplored for nearly half a century after the 
landing of the Europeans on this coast. Those of 
North America were first visited in 1512, by Juan 
Ponce de Leon, a Spanish adventurer in quest ot 
the Fountain of Immortal Youth, which the 
Indians represented as gushing up in one of the 
Elysian Valleys of the West; — but, unfortunately 
for him and for posterity, death overtook him be- 
fore he reached the Fountain, and the directions 
for finding it perished with him. Having made 
the first land on Pascha Florida, or Palm Sunday, 
he gave the name of Florida to all the country 
lying to the Norlh and West. 

In consequence of the premature death of Ponce 
de Leon, the expedition was given up, and little 
1* 



10 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 

more was known of these regions until 1538, 
when Hernandez de Soto, having been made Gov- 
ernor of Cuba, and Adelantado of Florida, under- 
took, with a company of six hundred men, to 
explore these his western dominions. He pene- 
trated Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, 
and struck the Mississippi not far from the place 
now known as the Chickasaw Bluffs. Thence he 
passed over to the Red River, and descending that, 
had nearly reached its mouth, when he was seized 
with a sudden fever, and died. To prevent his 
body from falling into the hands of the Indians, 
it was sunk in the stream at the mouth of Red 
River, near its junction with " the father of 
waters" 

The expedition of de Soto consumed four years, 
during which, his adventures, among the various 
tribes and nations then teeming in these quiet re- 
gions, were diversified and full of the most roman- 
tic interest. He was succeeded in 1542 by Lewis 
de Moscoso, or Mucoso, who, with none of the 
address or enterprise of de Soto, found himself 
and his small company, now reduced by disease 
and constant warfare with the natives, to about 
three hundred men, encompassed with difficulty, 
and in danger of being entirely cut off. They 
built seven brigantines, probably the first speci- 
mens of scientific ship building on the Mississippi, 
and then dropped down the river. Pursued by 



OF LOUISIANA. 11 

thousands of exasperated Indians in their canoes, 
harrassed, wounded, and some of them slain, the 
miserable remnant at length found their way out 
of the river, about the middle of July. 

No sooner had they put to sea, than a violent 
tempest arose ; when another calamity befel them, 
which will be feelingly understood by many of 
the navigators of these waters, in our own day. 
I will give it in the languaije of the historian, who 
was one of the party. " While they were in this 
tempest, in great fear of being cast away, they 
endured an intolerable torment of an infinite 
swarm of musketoes, which fell upon them, which, 
as soon as they had stung the flesh, it so infected 
it, as though they had been venomous. In the 
morning, the sea was assuaged, and the wind 
slacked, but not the musketoes; for the sails, 
which were white, seemed black with them in the 
morning. Those which rowed, unless others kept 
them away, were not able to row. Having passed 
the fear and danger of the storm, beholding the 
deformities of their faces, and the blows which 
they gave themselves to drive them away, one of 
them laughed at another." 

It is manifest from the narrative of de Soto's 
expedition, that a dense population once covered 
this whole territory. It is equally manifest that 
they were a race infinitely superior to the almost 
exterminated tribes which still remain. In the 



12 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 

arts of what we term civilization, in the comforts 
and conveniences of social life, in the organiza- 
tion of society, in works of taste, in a knowledge 
of the principles, and an appreciation of the beauties 
of architecture, and in the application of the va- 
rious mechanical powers requisite to the construc- 
tion of buildings on a grand and magnificent scale, 
they may challenge comparison with some of the 
proudest nations of antiquity, in the old world. 
What has become of those mysterious nations, we 
are at a loss to conjecture ; but their works re- 
main, though in ruins, eternal monuments of their 
genius and power. As far as they have been 
explored, they afford ample evidence that the 
appellation " New World" is an entire misnomer. 
As the eloquent Mr. Wirt once said — " Tliis is the 
old World/' and the day may come, when the 
antiquarian will find as much that is attractive 
and interesting in the time hallowed ruins and the 
almost buried cities, of America, as those of Pom- 
peii and Herculaneum, of Thebes and Palmyra. 

Changed as the whole country has been, in the 
lapse of three centuries, in respect to most of 
those things which must have struck the original 
discoverers with wonder, admiration, and awe — 
there is one feature, as described by de Soto, that 
still remains, so distinct and characteristic, that, 
if the brave old Adelantado should suddenly rise 



OF LOUISIANA. 13 

from his watery grave, he would immediately re- 
cognize the place of his burial. 

The Mississippi is still the same as when those 
bold adventurers first beheld it. The historian 
describes it as " a river so broad, that if a man 
stood still on the other side, it could not be dis- 
cerned whether he was a man or no. The chan- 
nel was very deep, the current strong, the water 
muddy and filled with floating trees." 

Of all the great rivers of this continent, it is a 
distinction which is probably peculiar to the Mis- 
sissippi, that it was discovered, not by navigators 
entering it from the ocean, but by a band of ad- 
venturous explorers, striking it in their march, at 
some thousand miles from its mouth ! 

For more than a century after the expedition of 
de Soto, these mighty regions were suffered to 
remain in the quiet possession of their original 
owners, undisturbed by the visits of white men. 
In 1654, the adventurous Col. Woods, from the 
infant colony of Virginia, wandered into these 
then remote regions, and crossed "the great river," 
after which it lay forgotten for twenty years 
longer. 

In 1673, Marquette, a French monk, and Joliet, 
a trader, starting from Quebec, traversed the great 
northern Lakes, ascended the Fox River to its 
source, made a small portage west to the Wiscon- 
sin, and descended that river to the Mississippi, 



14 TEERITOEIAL HISTORY 

where they arrived on the 7th of July. Commit- 
ting themselves to the current, the two solitary 
travellers reached a village of the Illinois, near 
the mouth of the Missouri, where they were kindly 
received and hospitably entertained. After a 
brief stay, they proceeded down to a settlement of 
the Arkansas, near the river of that name. They 
did not proceed farther at this time, but returned 
to Quebec, by the same route, fully impressed 
with the belief that they could reach the Gulf of 
Mexico, by continuing their course on the great 
river. There was immense rejoicing in Quebec 
at the result of this adventure. Te deum was 
sung in the Churches, on the occasion, and the 
great Western Valley set down as belonging to 
France by right of discovery. They were little 
aware how brief their dominion in that land would 
be, or how soon the fruits of all their toils would 
fall into the hands of a nation then unborn, that 
in one little century, should leap to independence 
and power, and claim an honorable place among 
the hoary empires of the earth. 

Six years after the return of Marquette and 
Joliet, Robert, Chevaliei" de la Salle, commenced 
operations for a further exploration of the Missis- 
sippi, With seventeen men, he proceeded to the 
Little Miami, near the mouth of which he built a 
fort. From thence he traversed the country, till 
he came to the Falls of St. Anthony. Descend. 



OF LOUISIANA. 15 

ing the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, he re- 
turned by land to Quebec during the 3^ear 1681. 
He then proceeded to France, procured a vessel, 
and sailed in 1685, with the intention of entering 
the river through the Gulf, but was unable to find 
its mouth. 

In his next voyage, having met with the same 
disappointment, he erected a fort in the Bay of St. 
Bernard, near the mouth of the Colorado. As- 
cending that river, about sixteen miles, he estab- 
lished another fort, which, however, he soon 
destroyed, and returned to the first settlement. 
Here he built houses, erected another fort, which 
he called St. Louis, and prepared the ground for 
cultivation. He made many abortive attempts to 
find the entrance to the Mississippi. At length, a 
conspiracy was formed among his own party, and 
he was cruelly murdered by Dehault, on the 19th 
of March, 1687, near the western branch of 
Trinity River. Thus fell, in the midst of his 
toils, and in the prime of his years, by the hand 
of an assassin, one of the most renowned adven- 
turers of the 17th century — a man who may be 
justly claimed as an honor to the country that 
gave him birth. He deserved a better fate. In 
cool courage, in hardy enterprise, and in fertility 
of resources, he was second only to Columbus. 
And in the power of subduing the wild spirits of his 
men, and bending all their energies to the one object 



16 TEimiTORIAL HISTORY 

before him, he displayed much of the sagacity and 
tact of that great navigator. In vigor, decision 
and promptitude, he much resembled the renowned 
Cortes, without any of the bigotry or cruelty, that 
tarnished the reputation of the Conqueror of 
Mexico. 

In 1699, eighteen years after La Salle had de- 
monstrated the connection of the Mississippi with the 
Gulf of Mexico, by passing out at its mouth, Ib- 
erville succeeded in entering it from the Gulf. 
Ascending as far as the junction of Red River, 
he returned, and proceeded, by way of the Gulf, 
into Lake Pontchartrain. He formed a settlement 
and erected a fort, at Biloxi, which he left under 
the command of his brother Bienville, while he re- 
turned to France, to induce others to join the colony. 
Soon after he left, the new commander ascended 
the Mississippi as far as the present site of New 
Orleans. In returning, he met a British vessel of 
sixteen guns, under the command ofCapt. Bard, 
who enquired the bearings of the great river, inti- 
mating that it was his intention to establish a colony 
upon its banks. Bienville, in reply, directed him 
to go farther west, and thus induced him to turn 
about ; from which circumstance, the place of 
their meeting was called " The English Turn," a 
name which it retains to this day. 

Iberville accompanied by a considerable ac- 
cession of force, comprising hardy settlers, and 



OF LOUISIANA. 17 

scientific men, soon returned to the colony. Find- 
ing things in a promising condition, he proceeded 
up the river as far as Natchez, and planted a set- 
tlement there. Leaving Bienville and St. Denys 
in command, he again took leave, and sailed for 
France. He was indefatigable in his exertions to 
establish and render permanent his' little colony. 
It was the first attempt in this section ; and Iber- 
ville miay be well regarded as the father of Lou- 
isiana. But he did not survive to enjoy its growth 
and prosperity. He died in one of the West 
India Islands, a victim to the yellow fever, in 1708. 
About this time, one Sauville was elected Gover- 
nor. He survived the appointment, however, but 
a short time. Bienville then succeeded him, and 
retained the office till 1710, when he was superse- 
ded by De Muys and Diron d'Artaquette. 

Finding that they derived no immediate advan- 
tage from this new accession of territory, the 
French Government, in 1712, granted to Antonio 
Crozat, a rich merchant of Paris, the monopoly 
of the trade of Louisiana, which he surrendered 
back in 1717. What a fortune a man might 
make now, out of a five years monopoly of the 
trade of that luxuriant region ! 

In 1717, a new charter was issued, under the style 
of " The Western Company," with the exclusive 
privilege of the trade of Louisiana for twenty-five 
years. Bienville was again chosen Governor, and 



18 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 

in the following year, 1718, he laid the foundation: 
of New Orleans. Hitherto the pursuits of agri-' 
culture had been entirely neglected. Whether 
this neglect was attributable to the hostility of the 
Indians, compelling them to concentrate their little 
force in one spot, or to the flattering promises of 
trade, or to the illusive hope of discovering mines 
of gold, which occupied all their time, or to all 
these causes combined, we cannot now determine. 
We only know, that, up to this period, they had 
depended almost entirely upon supplies sent from 
France, for the common necessaries of life. But 
now, the cultivation of the soil begun to be an ob- 
ject of considerable attention, tobacco and rice 
being the principal articles from which a profit 
was expected. 

The chief personage in this " Western Compa- 
ny," was the notorious John Law, a Scotch finan- 
cier, one of those universal speculators, who 
experiment upon every thing, human and divine, 
who revel only in change, and to whom mere 
innovation becomes the professional business of a 
life. As is usual in such cases, he managed so 
as to draw down ruin upon himself and his duped 
associates in France, while at the same time, he 
had the singular tact to place the colony in a 
condition for the time. The result of his schemes, 
however, was ultimately disastrous. The finances 
of the colony were thrown into inextricable con- 



OF LOUISIANA, 19 

fusion. The French Ministry, instead of applying 
an efficient remedy, or leaving the evil to cure 
itself, only tampered with it, by changing the 
values of the coins, and thus deranging all the 
money transactions of the colony. The effect 
was ruinous to some, and embarrassing to all. 
And when was it otherwise ? Never. History 
and experience utter but one voice on the subject 
of governmental experiments, and arbitrary legisla- 
tive innovations, upon ordinary fiscal operations, 
and the course of trade. And that voice is^ — 
"hands off.'' 

In the mean time war was declared between 
France and Spain. The colonists, sympathizing 
with the mother country, commenced offensive 
operations against their neighbors in Florida, and 
took possession of Pensacola ; which, however, the 
Spaniards soon recovered. The trade of war was 
never very profitable, even to conquerors. No 
sooner were the ditferent colonies of pale faces at 
loggerheads among themselves, than their natural 
enemies, the Indians, began to take advantage of 
their divisions, and to endeavor to exterminate 
them both. A horrible massacre took place at 
Natchez, in 1729. This was but part of a plan 
which had been formed among the Mississippi 
tribes, for a general butchery throughout the colony. 
The Natchez tribe, mistaking the day appointed 
for the sacrifice, commenced their work of blood 



20 TERRITOKIAL HISTORY 

too soon, and thus gave timely warning of the plot 
to all the other settlements. The war which 
followed was a destructive one, but the Indians 
were ultimately defeated. 

Bienville, having returned to France in 1727, 
was succeeded by Perrier. Under his adminis- 
tration, the agricultural enterprise of the colony 
was considerably advanced. The cultivation of 
indigo was commenced in 1728. The fig tree and 
the orange were introduced at the same time. 

In 1732, ten years before the legal expiration ot 
their monopoly, the " Western Company'^ returned 
their charter to the King. The colony was then 
scarcely more than thirty years old, yet, notwith- 
standing their many and severe trials, by war and 
by disease, the population numbered five thousand 
whites, and two thousand blacks. Bienville was, 
the third time, appointed Governor, having the 
entire confidence both of the government and of 
the people. He continued to exercise this office 
till 1741, when he again resigned, carrying with 
him into private life the regrets and affectionate 
regards of the inhabitants. He was succeeded 
by the Marquis de Vandreuil. 

In the winter of 1747-8, the orange plantations 
were visited by a severe frost, such as had never 
been known before, which not only cut off the 
crop for the season, but almost destroyed the pros- 
pects of that branch of business in the colony. 



OF LOUISIANA. 21 

The cultivation of the sugar cane, now so ex- 
tensive and lucrative a branch of business, did 
not begin to attract the attention of agriculturalists 
till 1751. Jt was then introduced by the Jesuits of 
St. Domingo, who sent some of the plants, as a pre- 
sent to their brethren in Louisiana, accompanied 
by negroes, well acquainted wiih its cultivation, 
and with the process then in use for manufacturing 
it into sugar. The lower part of the Fauxbourg of 
St. Mary was devoted to this experiment. That 
it was a happy experiment for the colony, and the 
country, the waving fields and princely estates on 
every side, and the annually increasing supply of 
this great staple, bear ample witness. 

A large accession was made to the population 
of the colony in 1754, by the arrival of emigrants 
from Acadia, (Nova Scotia) which they were com- 
pelled to leave, owing to the oppresssive measures 
of the British Government, by which that province 
had just been conquered. A few years afterwards, 
great numbers of Canadians, fleeing from the same 
oppressions, found refuge in the sunny vallies of 
the south, and brought a very considerable acqui- 
sition of strength and wealth to the colony. 

" The seven years' war" between France 
and England, ended in the cession, to the latter 
power, of all the French possessions in North 
America, except Louisiana. It was stipulated, 
between the two crowns, that the boundary line 



22 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 

of their respective dominions, in tlie New World, 
should run along the middle of the Mississippi, 
from its source as far as the Iberville, and along 
the middle of that river, and of Lakes Maurepas 
and Ponchartrain. This was in 1763. In the 
course of the same year, Louisiana was trans- 
ferred by treaty to the crown of Spain. The 
tidings of this unexpected cession, which were not 
promulgated until two years after the execution 
of the treaty, spread dismay through the colony. 
The idea of being passed over, nolens volens, to 
the domination of Spaniards, was revolting to the 
thousands of true hearted and loyal Frenchmen, 
who had acquired and defended the territory, and 
claimed it as their own. They resolved, as one 
man, to resist this unceremonious change of mas- 
ters, apparently determined, if their old mother, 
France, persisted in casting them off, to set up 
for themselves. 

In pursuance of this resolution, they refused to 
receive Don Ulloa, whom the King of Spain des' 
patched in 1766, to take possession of the Pro- 
vince, and to assume the Government, as his 
representative. The point was disputed at the 
cannon's mouth, but the colony prevailed, and 
Don Ulloa returned with his dishonored commis- 
sion, to his master. Charles was as indignant as 
his crest-fallen servant, at this unexpected repulse. 



OF LOUISIANA. '23 

But he was loo busy with his own troubles at 
home, to pursue the matter at that moment. 

A fit instrument of Royal vengeance was at 
length found, in the person of Don O'Reilley, a 
renegade Irishman, who, in 1769, was appointed to 
subdue and rule over the refractory province. A 
more perfect exemplification of the remark, that 
the most depraved unprincipled man may gain 
the confidence and regard of Kings, can scarcely 
be found. In the execution of his trust, he showed 
himself a very fiend incarnate. First, by fair 
promises, cautiously mingled with just as much 
of intimidation, as would give an air of candor 
and courtly conciliation to his promises, he in- 
duced the too credulous Louisianians to abandon 
their purpose of resistance, and surrender without 
striking a blow. This artful guise he continued 
to wear, till he had obtained possession of all the 
insignia of government, and' the sinews of power, 
and placed his own chosen tools in all the chief 
places of trust. Then the mask of hypocrisy was 
boldly thrown off, and the cloven foot uncovered. 
His fair promises were immediately shown to be 
only a master stroke of policy, to gain an end. In 
the face of his solemn stipulations, he caused those 
who had been foremost in refusing submission to 
his authority, to be seized and put to death. Five 
of them, principal citizens of New Orleans, he 
caused w be publicly shot. Five more he consiLmed 



24 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 

to the dungeons of the Moro, at Havana, and one he 
procured to be assassinated. Other acts of cold- 
blooded cruelty, and false-hearted tyranny follow- 
ed, till he became the execration and abhorrence 
of the whole colony. He introduced the Spanish 
colonial system, and subjected the inhabitants to 
every species of indignity and abuse. At length, 
the extravagance of his measures, and his un- 
principled abuse of power, wrought its own ruin. 
He was recalled by his King, and disgraced — if 
one already so infamous could by any means be 
rendered more so. His successor was Unzoga, 
who was shortly after superseded by Galvez. 

The colony now enjoyed a brief season of com- 
parative quiet. But the war between England and 
Spain, which broke out in 1779, afforded an oppor- 
tunity for Governor Galvez to show his loyal zeal, 
and exercise his military talents. With the troops 
under his command, he invaded Florida, took 
possession of Baton Rouge, and Fort Charlotte, 
near Mobile, and proceeded to Pensacola, which, 
after an obstinate resistance, also submitted to his 
authority. Thus was the Spanish dominion com- 
pletely established in Florida. 

Governor Miro, who succeeded Galvez, carried 
into full effect the colonial system of Spain, which 
was by no means relished by the French inhabi- 
tants of the colony. 

In 1785, a new firebrand was thrown into the 



CF LOUISIANA. 25 

midst of these combustible elements. An attempt 
was made to establish an office of the Inquisition in 
Louisiana. It was fearlessly opposed, and fortu- 
nately crushed without bloodshed. The agent, to 
whom the obnoxious business was entrusted, was 
seized in his bed, conveyed forcibly on board a 
vessel, and sent home to Spain. 

A census of the province, taken in 1788, just 
ninety years from the date of the first settlement, 
showed a population of 42,611. Of these, 19,445 
were whites, 21,465 slaves, and 1701 colored 
freemen. New Orleans, then 70 years old, con^ 
tained 5,338 inhabitants. 

The Baron de Carondelet was appointed Gover- 
nor in 1792. During his administration, in the 
year 1794, the first newspaper, called " Le Moni- 
teur," was published in Louisiana. At the 
same period the Canal Carondelet was commenced ; 
and the cultivation of indigo and the sugar cane, 
which had hitherto been the great staples of the 
colony, was suspended. 

In 1795, by the treaty of St. Lorenzo, the na- 
vigation of the Mississippi was opened to the west- 
ern States of the Union, and the great impulse 
given to the commercial prosperity of New Or- 
leans, which secured forever the pre-eminence of 
the Crescent City. The same treaty defined the 
boundaries, as they now exist, between Florida 
and Mississippi. But Carondelet, being rather 
2 



26 TEKKJTORIAL mS^TOKT 

more tardy in yielding possession, than suited the 
active, enterprizing spirit of the Americans, the 

^Uii. territory was seized by an armed force, under An- 
drew Elliott. 

Two years after this, a plan set on foot by Ca- 
rondelet, to dismember the American Union, by 
drawing the Western States into a separate com- 
pact, was detected and defeated by the address of 
General Wilkinson. Whether Aaron Burr was in 
the plot, or only took a hint from it a few years 
later, does not appear of record. , Carondelet was 

J^ succeeded by Gayosa de HAmorrCasa Calvo, and 
Salvado, who, successively, but for a very brief 
period, wielded tlie chief magistracy of the colony. 
In 1803. Louisiana was re-transferred to France, 
and inmiediately sold to the United States for 
15.000.000 of dollars. The treaty which accom- 
plished this important object was entered into on 
the 30th of April. Possession was taken, in be- 
half of the United States, by General Wilkinson 
and Willigjn C. Claiborne, amid the rejoicings of 
a people attached to liberty, and eager to grasp at 
any opportunity to shake off the yoke of Spain. 

The p,»pulation of Louisiana, at the time of the 
purchase, did not exceed fifty thousand, exclusive 
of the Indians, and these were scattered over 
every part of its immense territory. Seven years 
after, the population had nearly trebled, and her 
prosperity had advanced in equal proportion. 



OF LOUISIANA. 27 

The year 1812 was a memorable era in the 
history of Louisiana, and marked with incidents 
never to be forgotten by her citizens. It was in 
this year, that the first Steam Boat was seen on 
the bosom of " the great river," now alive with 
hundreds of these winged messengers, plying to 
and fro. In the same year war was declared 
with Great Britain, and Louisiana, as now consti- 
tuted, was admitted, as an independent State, into 
the great American Confederacy. 




The Cotion Plant. 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 




Plantation House and Works. 



The State of Louisiana is bounded on the north 
by the states of Arkansas, and Mississippi ; on 
the east by the latter and the Gulf of Mexico; on 
the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west 
by Mexico and Texas. It is a well watered gar- 
den, the soil being rich, and intersected by the 
Mississippi, Red, and VV^achita Rivers, and many 
inferior streams, and washed, on its western limit, 
by the Sabine. 

The face of the country is exceedingly level, so 
much so. that in a portion equal to three fourths 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, 29 

of the State, there is scarcely a hill to be found. 
Those parts that are covered with pine woods are 
usually uneven, sometimes rising into fine swells, 
with broad table summits, intersected with valleys 
from thirty to forty feet deep. They do not lie in 
any particular range, but, like the ocean in a high 
and regular swell, present a uniform undulated 
surface. The alluvial soil is, of course level, 
and the swamps, which are only inundated allu- 
vions, are dead flats. 

A range of gentle elevations commences in 
Opelousas, and gradually increasing in height as 
it advances, diverges toward the Sabine. In the 
vicinity of Natchitoches, this range holds its way 
northwestwardly; about half way between the Red 
and the Sabine Rivers, and continues to increase in 
altitude, till it reaches the western border of the 
State. Seen from the pine hills above Natchi- 
toches, it has the blue outline and general aspect 
of a range of mountains. 

Another line of hills, commencing not far from 
xllexandria, on the northern side of the Red River, 
and separating the waters of that stream from those 
of the Duclgemony, extends northwardly, till it 
approaches, and runs into, the mammillse, or 
bluffs, that bound the alluvions of the Wachita, 
diverging gradually from the line of that stream, 
as it passes beyond the western limits of the State. 

That remote part of Natchitoches called Allen's 



30 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

settlement, is a high rolling country. There are 
also hills of considerable magnitude on the east 
side of the Mississippi, beyond the alluvions. But 
generally speaking, Louisiana may be considered 
as one immense plain, divided into pine woods, 
prairies, alluvions, swamps, and hickory and oak 
lands. 

The pine-wood lands, as I have already said, 
are usually rolling. There are some exceptions, 
but they are very few. They have almost inva- 
riably a poor soil. Some of those west of Opelou- 
sas, and those between the Wachita and Red 
Rivers, are even sterile, answering well to the 
name by which they are called in some other parts 
of the country. Pine Barrens. 

'Some parts of the prairies of Opelousas are of 
great fertility, and those of Attakapas are still 
more so. As a general feature, they are more 
level than those of the upper country. An ex- 
tensive belt of these prairies, bordering on the 
Gulf of Mexico, is low and marshy, and subject 
to be wholly inundated in any extraordinary swell 
of the river. A considerable portion of them 
have a cold clayey soil, the surface of which, un- 
der the influence of a warm sun, hardens into a stiff 
crust. In other portions, the soil is of an inky 
blackness, and often, in the hot and dry season, 
cracks in long fissures some inches in width. 

The bottoms are generally rich, but in very 



THE STATE OF LOTHSIANA. 31 

different degrees. Those of the Mississippi and 
Red Rivers, and the bayous connected with these 
streams, are more fertile than those on the western 
border of the State. The quality of the richer 
bottoms of the Mississippi, as well as those of the 
Red River, is sufficiently attested by the prodigious 
growth of timber in those parts, the luxuriance of 
the cane and the cotton, the tangles of vines and 
creepers, the astonishing size of the weeds — 
which, however, find it difficult to over-top the 
better products of the soil — and the universal 
strength of the vegetation. 

The most productive district of this State, is a 
belt of land, called " the Coast,'^ lying along the 
Mississippi, in the neighborhood of New Orleans. 
It consists of that part of the bottom, or alluvion, 
of the Great R.iver, which commences with the 
first cultivation above the Balize, about forty miles 
below the capital, and extends about one hundred 
and fifty miles above it. This belt on each side 
of the river, is secured from an overflow by an 
embankment,^called " the /eyee," from six to eight 
feet in height, and sufficiently broad, for the most 
part, to furnish an excellent highway. The river, 
in an ordinary rise, would cover the greater part 
of these beautiful bottoms, to a depth of from 
two to six feet, if they were not thus protected. 
This belt is from one to two miles in width ; a 



32 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

richer tract of land, of the same extent, cannot 
probably be found on the face of the globe. 

On the east side of the river the levee extends 
to Baton Rouge, where it meets the highlands ; on 
the west side, it continues, with little interruption, 
to the Arkansas line. On the east, above the 
levee, are the parishes of Baton Rogue and West 
Feliciana. This latter received its appropriate 
and expressive name from its beautifully variega- 
ted surface of fertile hills and valleys, and its rare 
combination of all the qualities that are most to be 
desired in a planting country. It is a region of 
almost fairy beauty and wealth. The soil literal- 
ly teems with the most luxuriant productions of 
this favored clime. The hills are covered with 
laurel, and forest trees of magnificent growth 
and foliage, indicating a soil of the richest and 
most productive character. Here are some of the 
wealthiest and most intelligent planters, and the 
finest plantations in the state, the region of prince- 
ly taste and luxury, and more than patriarchal 
hospitality. The mouth of Bayou Sara, which 
is the point of shipment for this productive re- 
gion, transmits immense quantities of cotton to 
iMew Orleans. Some of the plantations on this 
bayou have from five to eight hundred acres under 
cultivation. 

On the western side of the Mississippi, are the 
Bayous Lafourche and Plaquemine, outlets, or 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 33 

arms of the Great River, and subject, of course, 
to all its fluctuations. The bottoms bordering on 
these bayous are of the same luxuriant soil, as 
those on the parent stream, and are guarded from 
inundation in the same manner, by levees. In 
this region, the sugar cane is exceedingly produc- 
tive. It is estimated that, within a compass of 
seven miles from Thibadeauxville, in the vicinity 
of the Bayous Black and Terre Bonne, about one 
tenth of the sugar crop of Louisiana is produced. 
A considerable part of Attakapas is also very 
productive, as well as portions of Opelousas. The 
latter, however, is better adapted to grazing. The 
Teche, which meanders through the former, and 
the eastern part of the latter, of these two parishes, 
never overflows its banks. The land rises from 
the river, in a regularly inclined plane towards 
the woods, affording free courses for the streams, 
which discharge themselves into the bayou. The 
soil, therefore, cannot be called alluvial, though 
in the most essential quality of productiveness, it 
is scarcely inferior to the best of them. It is a 
lovely region, the most beautiful, perhaps, in the 
whole Union, for agricultural purposes. But it 
has one great drawback, especially for the culti- 
vation of sugar; there is a deficiency of ordi- 
nary fire- wood ; though the live-oak abounds there 
to such an extent, that Judge Porter once remarked 
in Congress, that " there was enough of it in At- 
2* 



34 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

takapas, to supply the navies of the whole world 
with ship timber." 

The lands on the Atchafalaya are of an excel- 
lent quality, and would afford a desirable opening 
for enterprising cultivators, if they were not liable 
to frequent inundations, an evil which will doubt- 
less be remedied, as the population and wealth of 
that section advances. Those on the Courtableau, 
which runs through Opelousas, are equal in point 
of fertility, to any in that parish. From thence, 
proceeding northward, by Bayou Boeuf, we find, 
on that bayou, a soil which is regarded by many 
as the best in the State for the cultivation of cot- 
ton. There is also land of an excellent quality 
on bayou Rouge, though it is, as yet, for the most 
part, in the state of nature. The banks of the 
Bayou Robert, still further north, are of extraor- 
dinary fertility, the cane brake, a sure evidence 
of a very rich soil, flourishing with astonishing 
luxuriance. Bayou Rapid, which gives its name 
to the parish through which it runs, intersects one 
of the most beautiful tracts in the state, which is 
laid out, on both sides of the bayou, through the 
whole length of its course, into the finest cotton 
plantations. 

The bottoms of the Red River are well known 
for their fertility. Those which lie about its lower 
courses are justly esteemed the paradise of cotton 
planters. The soil is of a darkish red color, oc- 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 35 

casioned by the presence of the red oxide of iron. 
It is thought to derive its character of luxuriant 
productiveness from a portion of salt intimately- 
blended with its constituents, which, from its ten- 
dency to effloresce in a warm sun, renders the 
compound peculiarly friable. This soil is deep, 
and has been accumulating for unknown ao-es, 
from^ the spoils of the Mexican mountains," (a 
species of natural annexation which the laws of 
nations have no power to regulate,) and the vast 
prairies which are washed by its upper courses. 

^ The rich valley of the Red River is of a mag. 
niiicent breadth, and for the most part, where it 
has not been cleared for cultivation, covered with 
a dense growth of forest trees. All the bayous of 
this river, which are very numerous, branching 
off in every direction, and intersecting every part 
of this luxuriant valley, partake of the fertilizing 
character of the main stream.* 

There are few things among the works of na- 
ture, more remarkable than the floating prairies, 
which are found upon the lakes bordering upon 
the coast of the Gulf. They seem to have been 
formed by the natural aggregation of such veget- 

* Many of the preceding statements are the result of an ex- 
tensive personal observation ; for others, the work is indebted 
to McCulloch, a compilation of considerable value, but unfor- 
tunately, not always to be relied on as authority. In some 
points, he is glaringly incorrect. 



36 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

able matter as lay suspended upon the surface of 
the water, supplied with a light substratum of soil, 
partly by its own decay and disintegration, and 
partly by attracting around its roots and fibres the 
alluvial treasures with which all these waters 
abound. From this, various kinds of grass and 
weeds have sprung up, the roots of which have 
become firmly interwoven with the subjacent mass, 
matting it completely together, and giving it all 
the appearance of a substantial island. It is often 
several inches in thickness, and so nearly resem- 
bles terra firma, that not only the sagacity of man, 
t)ut even animal instinct has been deceived by it. 
These floating prairies are sometimes of great 
extent, and are by no means confined to waters 
comparatively shoal. They literally cover the 
deeps in some cases, and a great deal of precau- 
tion is necessary to avoid them, for, stable as they 
look at a distance, they are as unsubstantial as 
shadows, so that boats may oftentimes be forced 
through them. They are less trustv>^orthy than 
quicksands, for the unlucky wight who should 
adventure himself upon their deceitful appear- 
ances, would find himself entangled in a net of 
interminable extent, from which it would be im- 
possible to extricate himself. 

It may not be deemed presumption, perhaps, to 
suggest, that the great Raft on the Red River 
may be a formation upon the same principle, 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 37 

though upon a more enlarged scale. The stream 
being sluggish, and the alluvial deposit exceedingly 
heavy and rich, the accumulation of a productive 
soil, and the consequent growth and entanglement 
of roots would be very rapid ; and a foundation 
would ultimately be formed sufficiently stable and 
permanent, to be travelled with safety. Floating 
trees from the upper courses, arrested by this ob- 
struction, would imbed themselves in the mass, 
until, by continual accretions, it should become 
what it now is, an impassable and almost irremo- 
vable barrier to navigation. 

The Delta of the Mississippi is a region of ex- 
tensive marshes. For many leagues, the lakes, 
inlets and sounds, which dissect and diversify 
that amphibious wilderness, are connected by an 
inextricable tissue of communications and passes, 
accessible only by small vessels and bay craft, 
and impossible to be navigated except by the most 
experienced pilots. It is a perfect . labyrinth of 
waters, more difficult to unravel than those of 
Crete and Lemnos. The shore is indented by 
numberless small bays, or coves, few of which 
have sufficient depth of water, to afford a shelter 
for vessels. Berwick and Barritaria Bays are 
the only ones of any considerable magnitude. 

The prairies which cover so large a portion of 
this State, are, for the most part, connected together, 
as if the waters from which they were originally 



38 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

deposited had been an immense chain of lakes, all 
fed from the same great source. And this was 
undoubtedly the fact. They were all supplied 
from the Mississippi, and their wonderful fertility 
is derived from the alluvial riches of those inter- 
minable regions, which are washed by the father 
of rivers and his countless tributaries. Those 
included under the general name of Attakapas, 
are the first which occur on the west of the 
Mississippi. It is an almost immeasurable plain 
of grass, extending from the Atchafalaya on the 
north, to the Gulf of Mexico, on the south. Its 
contents are stated to be about five thousand 
square miles. Being open to the Gulf, it is gene- 
rally fanned by its refreshing breezes. To the 
traveller in those regions, who may have been toil- 
ing on his weary way through tangle, and swamp, 
and forest, there is something indescribably agree- 
able in this smooth and boundless sea of unrivalled 
fertility, whose dim outline mingles with the blue 
of the far off Gulf — the whole vast plain covered 
with tall grass, waving and rippling in the breeze, 
sprinkled with neat white houses, the abodes of 
wealth, comfort and hospitality, and dotted with 
innumerable cattle and horses grazing in the 
fields, or reposing here and there under the shade 
of the wooded points. The sudden transition 
from the rank cane, the annoying nettles, the 
stifling air, and the pestilent mosquitoes, to this 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 39 

open expanse, and the cool salubrious breath of 
the ocean, is as delightful and reviving as an oasis 
in the desert. 

In the nfiidst of this immense prairie, is situated 
the parish of Attakapas. This word, in the lan- 
guage of the Aborigines, from whom it is derived, 
signified " man-eater," the region having been oc- 
cupied by Cannibals. Strange indeed, that the inha- 
bitants of a climate so bland, and a soil so fertile, 
should possess the taste, or feel the necessity for 
so revolting and unnatural a species of barbarism. 
Opelousas prairie is still more extensive than 
Attakapas, being computed to contain nearly ei^ht 
thousand square miles. It is divided by bayous, 
wooded grounds, points, and bends, and other nat- 
ural boundaries, into a number of smaller prairies, 
which have separate names, and characteristics 
more or less distinctive. Taken in its whole extent, 
it is bounded by the Attakapas prairie on the east,' 
pine woods and hill on the north, the Sabine on 
the west, and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. 
The soil though in many places extremely fertile, 
is generally less so than that of Attakapas. It 
has, however, a compensating advantage, being- ' 
deemed the healthiest region in the State. ' It em''- 
braces several large cotton plantations, and a con- 
siderable region devoted to the cultivation of the 
sugar cane. The parish which bears its name is 
one of the most populous in Louisiana. It is the 



40 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

centre of the land of shepherds, the very Arcadia 
of those who deal in domestic animals. To that 
employment, the greater part of the inhabitants 
are devoted, and they number their flocks and 
herds by thousands. On one estate five thousand 
calves were branded in the spring of 1845. 

The people of this district are distinguished for 
that quiet, easy, unostentatious hospitality, which 
assures the visitor of his welcome, and makes him 
so much at home, that he finds it difficult to realize 
that he is only a guest. 

Bellevue prairie lies partly in Opelousas, and 
partly in Attakapas. Calcasieu and Sabine prairies 
are only parts of the great plain, those names being 
given to designate some of the varied forms and 
openings it assumes in its ample sweep from the 
Plaquemine to the Sabine. They are, however, 
though but parts of a larger prairie, of immense 
extent. The Sabine, seen from any point near its 
centre, seems, like the mid-ocean, boundless to the 
view. The Calcasieu is seventy miles long, by 
twenty wide. Though, for the most part, so level 
as to have the aspect of a perfect plain, the surface 
is slightly undulated, with such a general, though 
imperceptible declination towards the streams and 
bayous by which it is intersected, as easily to carry 
off the water, and prevent those unhealthy stagna- 
tions which are so fatal in this climate. There is 
also a gentle slope towards the Gulf, along the shore 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 41 

of which the vast plain terminates in low marshes 
often entirely covered with the sea. These marsh- 
es are overspread with a luxuriant growth of tall 
reedy cane -grass. 

One of the most striking and peculiar features 
of these prairies is found in the occasional patches 
of timbered land, with which their monotonous 
surface is diversified and relieved. They are like 
islands in the bosom of the ocean, but are for the 
most part so regular and symmetrical in their 
forms, that one is with difficulty convinced that 
they are not artificial, planted by the hand of 
man, in circles, squares, or triangles, for mere 
ornament. It is impossible for one who has not 
seen them, to conceive of the effect produced by 
them, rising like towers of various forms, but 
each regular in itself, from the midst of an ocean 
of grass. Wherever a bayou or a stream crosses 
the prairie, its course is marked with a fringe of 
timber, the effect of which upon the eye of the 
observer is exceedingly picturesque, making a 
background to the view in many instances, like 
lines of trees in landscape painting. 

All the rivers, bayous, and lakes of this State 
abound with alligators. On Red River, before it 
was navigated by steamboats, it was not uncom- 
mon to see hundreds in a group along the banks, or 
covering the immense masses of floating and 
stranded timber, bellowing like angry bulls, and 



42 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

huddled so closely together, that the smaller ones 
were obliged to get upon the backs of the larger. 
At one period, great numbers were killed for 
their skins, which were made into leather for boots 
and shoes, but not proving sufficiently cloye grained 
to keep out the water, the experiment was abandon- 
ed. Alligators average from eight to twelve feet 
in length. Some have been caught, measuring 
twenty feet. 

The fear is often entertained, and sometimes ex- 
pressed, that the levees of the Mississippi are not 
sufficient to resist the great body of water that is 
continually bearing and wearing upon them ; and 
these fears have, in several cases, been realized, 
though never to any very great extent. In May 
1816 the river broke through, about nine miles 
above New Orleans, destroyed several plantations, 
and inundated the back part of the city to the depth 
of three or four feet. The crevasse was finally 
closed, by sinking a vessel in the breach, for the 
suggestion and accomplishment of which, the public 
was chiefly indepted to Governor Claiborne. 

In June, 1844, the river rose higher than it had 
done for many years, marking its whole course, 
for more than two thousand miles, with wide spread 
destruction to property and life. It crept over the 
levee in some places near New Orleans, but caused 
no actual breach in that vicinity. At Bonnet Carre 
it forced a crevasse, doing considerable damage and 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 43 

causing great alarm in the neighborhood ; but the 
mischief was not so serious as might have been 
anticipated, and the embankment has been so in- 
creased and strengthened, as to leave but little 
apprehension for the future. 

Tlie interests of Education in Louisiana, though 
hitherto too much neglected, are now decidedly 
and preceptibly advancing. In the higher depart- 
ments, are the College of Lousiana, at Jackson, 
in Ea^t Feliciana; and Jefferson College in St. 
James parish, on the coast — the former incor- 
porated in 1825, the later in 1831. Both have 
at various times, received generous donations 
from the treasury of the state. Franklin College, 
in Opelousas was also incorporated in 1831, under 
the same favorable auspices* 



* The new constitution of Louisiana prescribes that the 
legislature shall establish free schools throughout the state, 
appoint a superintendent of education, and provide means for 
defraying the expense by taxation. The proceeds from the 
sale of all public lands granted by the United States, the estates 
of deceased persons escheating to the state, as well as certain 
other named emoluments, are to remain a perpetual fund, 
sacredly to be applied to the support of such schools, A pro- 
vision is also to be made for establishing a college in the city 
of New Orleans, to be called the University of Louisiana, to 
consist of four faculties, viz. law, medicine, the natural sciences 
and letters — of which the Medical College of Louisiana, as now 
organized, is to constitute the faculty of medicine. The legisla- 
ture is to be under no obligations to contribute to the support of 
this institution by appropriations. 



44 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

There are also several Academies acting under 
the legal sanction of the State, although not 
endowed by it. The Ursuline Nuns' School and 
that of the Sisters of Charity — the latter in the 
parish of St. James, afford instruction in all the 
polite branches of female education. The Con- 
vent at Grand Coteau near Opelousas, has an 
average of about two hundred scholars ; and 
efficient persons from France have the control 
and direction of their education. 

The public schools, designed for the general 
and gratuitous dissemination of knowledge among 
all classes, have not only increased in number 
but havegeneraly outstripped those of the higher 
order, by seizing at once upon all the improve- 
ments which the experience of teachers in other 
parts of the country, and the world, has from 
time to time suggested. Mere innovations rather 
hinder than advance the progress of education. 
But the simplest suggestion of an enlightened 
experience and a sound judgment, such as are 
brought to bear upon this great interest through- 
out the whole of the nothern and eastern States, 
is entitled to the profound regard of the Southern 
philanthropist, whose aim and ambition it should 
be, to make the most of every facility and to be 
no whit behind the older, but not more wealthy 
sections, in any thing that can promote the moral 
and intellectual power of the masses of the people. 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 45 

The climate of Louisiana is hot and moist. In 
the neighborhood of the marshes, and in the sum- 
mer season, it partakes of the unhealthy character 
of nearly all tropical climates. Diseases of the 
lungs, however, and other complaints so prevalent 
at the north, are scarcely known ; and to many, the 
quick consuming fever which finishes its work in a 
few days, may be considered but a fair offset to the 
slow but sure consumption, which flatters its vic- 
tims with the semblance of life and hope, while 
dragging them through its long and dreary laby- 
rinths, to the chambers of death. 

This climate is favorable to almost all the pro- 
ductions of the tropics. The sugar, the cotton 
plant, the orange, the lemon, the grape, the mul- 
bery, tobbaco, rice, maize, sweet potato, &c., &c., 
flourish in rich abundance, and some of them attain 
to a luxuriance of growth scarcely known in any 
other part of the world. Sugar and Cotton are the 
two great staples. The former is confined chiefly 
to that tract, which, by way of distinction, is called 
"the coast," lying along the shores of the Gulf, and 
the bayous of the Mississippi. 

The average sugar crop of the whole state, is 
now about 180,000 hogsheads. That of cotton, for 
the last year is not ascertained, but the amount 
produced in the whole valley of the Mississippi, 
sent to New Orleans for export in 1843, was 1,088- 
000 bales. Owing to the large extension of the cot- 



46 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

ton growing districts, and excessive competition in 
its manufacture, the cultivation ofcotton yields less 
profit tlian it formerly did, and there seems to be 
no substantial reason why it should not, in some de- 
gree, give place to sugar, at least until the latter 
can be furnished in sufficient quantity to supply the 
domestic consumption. Under the ordinary increase 
of population, the utmost exertions of the cane plan- 
ters will hardly arrive at such a result, in half a 
century to come. 

While on this subject, it will not, I trust, be 
deemed irrelevant or officious, to place before the 
reader the suggestions of an intelligent gentleman 
of New Orleans, in regard to the present mode of 
cultivating and manutacturing sugar. He observes 
that in order to carry on the business to advantage, 
and compete favorably with those already estab- 
lished, a large capital is required, since in addition 
to the ground to be cultivated, and the hands to be 
employed in the field, expensive i^iills and machine- 
ry must be set up, and kept ii> motion, with a large 
number of laborers in attendance. Consequently 
no man in moderate circumstances can undertake 
this branch of business, as it is now conducted. To 
obviate this difficulty, and extend the cultivation 
and manufacture nf this important staple, he pro- 
poses a division of labor and profit, like that which 
prevails in the grain growing and milling regions 
of the north. The farmer sells his wheat, at a fair 



THE STATE OF LOtnSIANA. 47 

market value, to the miller, or pays him a stipula- 
ted percentage for grinding and bolting. In the 
same manner might the business here be divided 
into two distinct branches. The planter might 
sell his cane to the miller, or pay him the estab- 
lished price for converting it into sugar and mo- 
lasses. This would enable men of comparatively 
small means to undertake the cultivation of the 
cane, who now confine themselves to cotton, and 
thus relieve the larger cultivators of the latter 
staple from the dangers of over production. 

Casting our eyes back to no very distant period, 
and noticing the small beginnings of our early 
planters of cotton, the reader will pardon the in- 
troduction of a trifling anecdote. During the year 
1784, only sixty years since, and therefore within 
the memory of many now living, an American 
vessel, having eighty hales o^ cotton on board, was 
seized at Liverpool, on the plea that so large an 
amount of cotton could not have been produced 
in the United States. The shipment in 1785 
amounted to 14 bales, in 1786 to 6, in 1787 to 
109, 1788 to 389, in 1789 to 842. An old Caro- 
lina planter, having gathered his crop of five acres, 
was so surprised and alarmed at the immense 
amount they yielded, which was fifteen bales, that 
he exclaimed " well, well — I have done with cot- 
on — he re is enough to make stockings for all the 



48 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

people in America!" The cotton crop of the 
United States for 1844 was 2,300,000 bales. 

The fluctuations in the foreign cotton market, 
within a few years past, have produced, among 
scientific agriculturalists and experienced planters, 
no little speculation upon the course which a due 
regard to their own interests requires them to 
pursue. It is not to be wondered at, that in a 
country so vast, so luxuriantly fertile as ours, and 
teeming with the most enterprising and industri- 
ous population on the face of the earth, the strict 
relations of supply and demand should be occa- 
sionally disturbed in some of the many abundant 
productions of the soil. It is always a difficult 
problem to solve, especially where the field is 
very large, and the producers many, and constant- 
ly increasing. In attempting to meet it, the first 
question to be answered is, does the present supply 
greatly overreach the present demand ? 

An intelligent writer in Hunt's Merchant's 
Magazine for October, 1844, Henry Lee, Esq., 
has placed this subject, so far as he has there pur- 
sued it, in a very clear light. He commences by 
stating that '' the consumption of cotton in Europe, 
other than the production of America and India, 
is too insignificant to have any impor|tant bearing 
upon prices." He goes on to show that the value 
placed upon tlie article at present, is quite suffi- 
cient, and that the advantage it gives to the manu- 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 49 

facturer of New England, whose operations are 
vastly increasing, renders him a successful com- 
petitor to those of Great Britain ; and nothing but 
an inflated currency, or imprudent speculations 
can produce an advance. And any advance so 
procured must inevitably be followed by a ruinous 
reaction. He shows that, through the agency of 
the British manufacturers, and the exporters of 
their goods to countries beyond the Cape of Good 
Hope, a considerable quantity of American grown 
cotton had been sent to those regions, in the form 
of manufactures and twist, over and above the 
amount of Indian grown cotton consumed in the 
factories of England. This simple fact, which is 
demonstrated as clearly as figures can speak, com- 
pletely nullifies the importation of cotton from that 
quarter. 

The proportion of raw cotton, other than the 
produce of the United States and India, used in 
the manufactures of Great Britain, is very small, 
and constantly diminishing in quantity. After 
producing statistical e\'idence, Mr. hee arrives at 
the satisfactory result that the consumption of 
cotton from the United States and India, is as 
ninety-four to one hundred, leaving, for all other 
sources of supply, only six per cent. With such 
a ratio as this, and the competition constantly de- 
clining, it is manifest that we have nothing to fear 
from rival producers. 
3 



50 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

The delicate enquiry now arises, can the 
Annerican planter sustain himself under existing 
prices ? Or, can he, by the exercise of better 
economy, make his labors more productive ? It 
seems to me, if it will not be presuming too far 
to offer the suggestion, that there should be an 
understanding between the larger and more intel- 
ligent planters, in relation to these points, and that 
they should, for their own individual and collective 
interests, consider, whether it would not be better 
partially to restrain the cultivation of this staple, 
rather than permit it to increase beyond the known 
and certain demands of commerce. The question 
increases in importance, as the cotton growing 
region enlarges, by the admission of " the lone 
star" into the constellation of Freedom. While 
it secures to the United States forever almost the 
entire monopoly of production, it puts it in her 
power, by a judicious combination among her 
great producers, to command a fair compensating 
price for cotton. Without some such combination, 
or, which is equivalent to the same thing, a pre- 
vailing disposition on the part of the planters, 
rather to wait for a demand than to anticipate, 
or endeavor to create it, there will always be a 
surplus stock in the market, which, however 
insignificant, will affect the price of the whole 
crop. 

The luxuriant soil of Louisiana is capable of 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 51 

of producing many articles even more lucrative 
than cotton, of which there is no immediate dan- 
ger of creating an over supply. For some of 
them, there is a very large and increasing home 
consumption, as well as an active demand in other 
parts of the world that are open to our commerce. 
Of sugar, I have spoken already. Madder, silk, 
hemp, tobacco, may also be mentioned, as pro- 
mising sure results to any who are disposed to 
try them. Under the impression that, in view of 
what I have already presented, the subject will be 
interesting to my readers, I shall venture to add 
a few words in relation to some of the above- 
mentioned articles. 

Madder,* {rubia iinctornm,) the roots of a plant, 
which consist of several varieties. They are 
long and slender ; varying from the thickness of 
a goose quill, to that of the little finger. They 
are semi-transparent, of a reddish color, have a 
strong smell, and a smooth bark. Madder is very 
extensively used in dying red ; and, though the 
color which it imparts be less bright and beauti- 
ful than that of cochineal, it has the advantage 
of being cheaper and more durable. It is a 
native of the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and 
India ; but has long since been introduced intOj 



* For many satisfactory particulars, see McCuUoch's Com- 
mercial Dictionaiy, under article Madder. 



52 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

and successfully cultivated in Holland, Alsace, 
Provence, &c. The attempt to cultivate it in 
England, like that of Indian corn, has proved a 
complete failure. The English, for a long time, 
depended upon Holland for their supplies ; but 
now large quantities are imported from France 
and Turkey, under a duty of two shillings sterling 
on the manufactured, and sixpence on the roots. 
The duties, formerly, were much higher. 

The plant is raised from seed, and requires three 
years to come to maturity. It is, however, often 
pulled in eighteen months, without injury to 
the quality, the quantity only being smaller. It 
requires a light vegetable mould, that retains the 
greatest quantity of water and adheres the least 
to the tools. When the soil is impregnated with 
an alkaline matter, the root acquires a red color, 
in other cases it is yellow. The latter is preferred 
in England, from the long habit of using Dutch 
madder, which is of this color ; but in France, the 
red sells at a higher price, being used for Turkey 
red die. 

The Zealand or Dutch madder is prepared for 
market in a manufactured state ; and is known in 
trade by the terms, mull, gamene, ombro, and crops. 
In some other countries, the roots are packed up 
promiscuously, and the article is sold by the quin- 
tal. The price of madder, like every thing else, is 
affected by the quantity in market, and ranges in 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 53 

France from its minimum 22, to 100 francs a quin- 
tal. It does not deteriorate by age. The quantity 
used in this country is very considerable — but 
nothing equal to that required in Great Britain. 
For the particular manner of cultivating madder, 
the reader is referred to an excel lent essay upon that 
subject, from the pen of M. De Casparin, which 
was laid before the Academy of Sciences at Paris, 
and a prize awarded to its author. 

The mulberry is grown with little difficulty in 
these latitudes, and therefore, silk may be pro- 
duced in abundance, and rendered an article of 
domestic and commercial consequence. Planta- 
tions have already been commenced in several of 
the parishes, which will soon test the feasibility of 
the undertaking. A gentleman by the name of 
Vasseur, recently from France, has purchased 
land and made preparations to enter into that busi- 
ness, under many years of experience. In the parish 
of St. James, particularly, considerable attention is 
being paid to the culture of silk. It would be ex- 
tremely gratifying to be able to lay the result of 
these experiments before the reader; but the 
necessary information is not at hand. 

Hemp is raised in Missouri and Kentucky to 
some extent, as the quantities annually landed on 
the levee in New Orleans afford ample evidence. 
The demand for it will be good for many years, 
and the hint should not be neglected by the citi- 



54 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

zeiis of Louisiana, who possess the higher grounds, 
which are calculated for its production. When 
it is considered that this is a raw material of vast 
demand, which has heretofore been furnished from 
abroad, there can scarcely be any excuse for 
neglecting the culture, provided the profits be 
equal to those on sugar and cotton. The time 
may come, when even foreign nations will look to 
this republic for cordage and duck ; at all events, 
we should not depend upon them for articles neces- 
sary for domestic purposes, and especially for 
those which may with propriety be classed " among 
the sinews of war." 

Specimens of tohacco, the produce of seed 
imported from Cuba, have been exhibited in this 
market, which are very little, if any, inferior to 
the best from that island. These samples were 
raised by a gentleman who resides near Jackson, 
who took no extraordinary pains in the cultiva- 
tion. The segars manufactured from them would 
pass, among good judges, for the best Havana. 
This planter is of opinion that he can very much 
improve the crops, by bestowing as much care 
upon them as is given to the same pursuit in Cuba, 
and there can be little reason to question his 
assertion. 

The Natchitoches tobacco stands higher abroad, 
particularly for snuff, than any other. This 
article is so well known in France, and many other 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 55 

places, that those who are engaged in planting it, 
boast that it requires no protective duties, as it will 
be quite able to take care of itself. 

The only drawback upon the cultivation of to- 
bacco, in this state, is the worm, which begins its 
depredations in early sumnner. But much loss by 
this annoyance might be avoided, by forcing the 
plants in their early stage, in a hot-house, so that 
they might sooner be brought to maturity, and two 
clippings be made before the advent of the worm. 

The thin soil on lake Pontchartrain is found to 
be well adapted to the vine. Already, considera- 
ble progress has been made in its cultivation in 
that neighbourhood, and grapes are abundantly 
furnished for the New Orleans market. There 
is no doubt that wine might be produced in 
abundance. 

Indigo, one of the oldest products of this state. 
has been superseded by the sugar cane. Whether 
the planter has found more advantage in the latter 
than in the former cultivation, can only be inferred 
from his continuing to pursue it ; for the maxim, 
that trade will regulate itself, is nearly as appli- 
cable to agriculture as to commerce. 

Grazing, although it has been carried to a great 
extent in Attakapas and Opelousas, has never 
proved so lucrative as might be supposed. Many 
of the cattle perish there during winter, for the 
want of proper nourishment. There is a grass. 



56 THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

however, known by the name of muskeet, an ever-, 
green, which flourishes abundantly in Texas, 
spreads rapidly, is exceedingly nutritious, and 
much sought for by animals, and might easily be 
introduced into these prairies. This improvement 
would make this section of country the best for 
grazing in the United States. More attention is 
being paid to breeding cattle, and the improvement 
of stock, than formerly. Sheep may be raised 
among the hills, in and about Natchitoches, in 
almost any numbers. In Lafourche, also, al- 
though they are of small size, they are fat and of 
fine flavor. This is a business which is yet in 
its infancy here. The capabilities for its extension 
are immense, and there is no doubt that the enter- 
prise of the inhabitants will soon find means to 
make it profitable. The mutton of this state is 
already superior to any produced in the Union ; 
good judges in these matters have even pronounced 
it to be equal to the best English. 

The minerals of Louisiana, so far as known, 
are very limited. Lead has only been found in 
fragments ; and none of these have proved to be 
rich. Valuable beds of gypseous marl exist in 
Ihe vicinity of the Wachita, which admit of being 
worked to great advantage. Lignite coal has been 
discovered in tertiary formations, which never 
present any article of this kind beyond an ordina- 
ry quality, the better being always confined to the 



THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 57 

secondary strata. On the lands north of lake 
Pontchartrain, clay exists of an excellent quality 
and very pure, suitable for manufacturing not only 
the best bricks, but pottery of all kinds. It is to 
be hoped that this will remedy the great evil that 
New Orleans has hitherto experienced, by the use 
of a bad material for buildings. This has arisen 
from the employment of a substance too near the 
surface of the earth ; whereas, by going a little 
deeper, a prime clay is obtained, that would bid 
defiance, when well burnt, to the humidity peculiar 
to this southern atmosphere. 




NEW ORLEANS. 




Mouth of the Mississippi. 

New Orleans, the capital of Louisiana, stands 
on the right side of the Mississippi, in ascending, 
ninety-two miles from its mouth. The river here 
makes a considerable bend to the northeast, and 
the city occupies the north-western side, although 
its situation is east of the general course of the 
stream. It is in latitude SO'^ 57' north, longitude 
90® 8' west ; by the river 301 miles below Natch- 
ez ; 1220 miles below St. Louis; 1040 below 
Cairo, at the mouth of the Ohio ; 2004 below 



^'E^V ORLEANS. 



59 



Pittsburg ; and 1244 southwest from Washington 
city. 

In 1718, Bienville, then governor of the pro- 
vince, explored the banks of the Mississippi, in 
order to choose a spot for the chief settlement, 
which had hitherto been at Biloxi. He selected 
the present site, and left fifty men to clear the 
ground, and erect the necessary buildings. Much 
opposition was made, both by the military and the 
directors of the Western Company, to removing 
the seat of government to this place. Another 
obstacle, for a while, threatened almost insur- 
mountable difficulties to his design. In 1719, the 
Mississippi rose to an extraordinary height ; and, 
as the company did not possess sufficient force to 
protect the spot from inundation, by dykes and 
levees, it was for a time abandoned. In the 
November of 1722, however, in pursuance of 
orders, Delorme removed the principal establish- 
ment to New Orleans. In the following year, 
agreeably to Charlevoix, it consisted only of one 
hundred cabins, placed with little order, a large 
wooden warehouse, two or three dwelling-houses, 
and a miserable store-house, which had been used 
as a chapel, a mere shed being then the only accom- 
modation afforded for a house of prayer. The 
population did not exceed two hundred Thus 
commenced what is now called the "Crescent 
city;" which, in a commercial point of view, and 



60 NEW ORLEANS. 

in proportion to the number of its inhabitants, has 
not an equal upon the face of the globe. 

During the same year, a party of German emi- 
grants, who had been disappointed by the financier. 
Law, of settling on lands granted to him in Ar- 
kansas, descended the river to New Orleans, in 
the hope of obtaining passage to France ; but the 
government being either unwilling or unable to 
grant it, small allotments of land were apportioned 
them, on what is now called the German Coast. 
These people supplied the city with garden stuffs ; 
and most of their descendants, with large acces- 
sions from the old country, still cultivate the same 
land, upon a much improved scale. 

In September of this year, the capital was 
visited by a terrible hurricane, which levelled to the 
ground the church, if such it might be called, the 
hospital, and thirty houses ; and three vessels that 
lay in the river were driven ashore. So destructive 
was it to the crops and gardens, that a scarcity of 
provisions was the consequence ; and such was 
the distress, that several of the inhabitants seriously 
thought of abandoning the colony. 

In the summer of 1727, the Jesuits and Ursuline 
nuns arrived. The fathers were placed on a tract 
of land now forming the lowest part of the faux- 
bourg St. Mary. The nuns were temporarily 
lodged in a house in the corner of Chartres and 
Bienville streets — but, soon after, the company laid 



NEW ORLEANS. 61 

the foundation of the edifice in Conde and Ursuline 
streets, to which they were removed in 1730 ; this 
place was occupied by them until the great value of 
the land induced them to divide the larger portion of 
it into lots. Their new convent was erected about 
two miles below the city, and there they removed 
in 1824. At this period, the council house and 
jail were built, on the upper side of the Cathedral. 
In 1763, Clement XIII expelled the Jesuits from 
the dominions of the kings of France, Spain and 
Naples. They were, consequently, obliged to 
leave Louisiana. Their property in New Orleans 
was seized, and sold for about one hundred and 
eighty thousand dollars. It is now estimated to be 
worth upwards of fifteen millions. At the time of 
the expulsion of this order, they owned the grounds 
which are now occupied by the second munici- 
pality. The valuable buildings in which they 
dwelt, were situated in Gravier and Magazine 
streets. Some of them were pulled down to make 
room for the late banking house of the Canal bank, 
on the corner of those streets, [t is computed, that 
more than one half of the real estate in this city, 
is derived from the confiscation of the property of 
the Jesuits, under legal proceedings had by order 
of the French government. The archives of the 
first municipality contain many interesting and 
curious documents in relation to these proceedings, 
that are well worth examination. 



62 



NEW ORLEANS. 



The first visitation of the yellow fever was in 
1769. Since that time it has continued to be almost 
an annual scourge. It was introduced into this con- 
tinent, in the above named year, hy a British vessel, 
from the coast of Africa, with a cargo of slaves. 
In addition to this affliction, (the yellow fever above 
alluded to,) the colony was, during the year 1769, 
transferred to Spain, and the capital was taken 
possession of by O ' Reilly, with a show of military 
power, and an individual diposition to oppress, that 
brought equal disgrace upon himself, and upon the 
government that commissioned him. The com- 
merce of this city suffered very much from the 
restrictive colonial system of Spain. This, how- 
ever, was removed in 1778, (a year memorable 
for a fire that burnt nine hundred houses at one 
time) and, in 1782, the mercantile interest of the 
place was benefited by still further extended privi- 
leges of trade. 

The census of 1785 gives to the city a population 
of 4,780, exclusive of the settlements in the imme- 
diate vicinity. 

In consequence of the commercial advantages 
above alluded to, a number of merchants from 
France established themselves here, and British 
trading vessels navigated the Mississippi. They 
were a species of marine pedlars, stopping to trade 
at any house, by making fast to a tree, and receiv- 
ing in payment for merchandize, whatever the 



NEW ORLEANS. 63 

planter had to spare, or giving him long credits. 
The Americans, at that time, commenced the 
establishment of that trade from the west to New 
Orleans, which has been steadily increasing ever 
since. The idea of this traffic was first conceived 
by General Wilkinson. A lucrative business was 
also conducted by the Philadelphians, which the 
colonial authorities winked at for a while ; but the 
Spanish minister, finding that he did not participate 
in the profits of it, as the Americans refused to com- 
ply with his hints to consign to his friends, put a 
stop to it. He procured a list of the names of 
the vessels, severely reprimanded the intendant, 
Navarro, and so worked upon his fears that he 
began to prosecute all infringements of the reve- 
nue laws, seizing the vessels, confiscating the goods 
and imprisoning the owners, captains and crews. 
The venal minister, perceiving that he had rendered 
himself extremely unpopular by his intermeddling 
with the commerce between Philadelphia and New- 
Orleans, finally released all the individuals he 
had imprisoned, restoring the confiscated prop- 
erty, and discontinuing any further interference. 
The trade immediately received a new impulse 
and was greatly increased. General Wilkinson at 
the same time obtained permission to send one or 
more launches loaded with tobacco, from Kentucky. 
Soon after, many Americans availed themselves 



64 NeV ORLEANS. 

of a privilege which was granted, of settling in the 
country. 

The first company of French comedians arrived 
here in 1791. They came from Cape Francois, 
whence they made their escape from the revolted 
slaves. Others from the same quarter opened 
academies — the education of youth having hitherto 
been confined to the priests and nuns. 

The baron Carondelet, in 1792, divided the city 
into four wards. He recommended lighting it, and 
employing watchmen. The revenue did not 
amount to seven thousand dollars, and to meet the 
charges for the purchase of lamps and oil, and to 
to pay watchmen, a tax of one dollar and an eighth 
was levied upon chimneys. 

He also commenced new fortifications around the 
capital. A fort was erected where the mint now 
stands, and another at the foot of Canal street. 
A strong redoubt was built in Rampart street, and 
at each of the angles of the now city proper. 
The Baron also paid some attention to training the 
militia. In the city, there were four companies of 
volunteers, one of artillery, and two of riflemen, 
consisting of one hundred men each, making an 
aggregate force of 700 men. 

A great extension was given to business in Febru- 
ary of this year. The inhabitants were now 
permitted to trade freely in Europe and America, 
wherever Spain had formed treaties for the regu- 



NEW ORLEANS. 65 

lation of commerce. The merchandise thus im- 
ported, was subject to a duty of fifteen per cent; 
and exports to six per cent. With the Peninsula 
it was free. 

In 1795 permission was granted by the king to 
citizens of the United States, during a period of 
ten years, to deposit merchandise at New Orleans. 
The succeeding year, the city was visited by an- 
other conflagration, which destroyed many houses. 
This reduced the tax upon chimneys so much, that 
recourse was had to assessing wheat, bread and 
meat, to defray the expense of the city light and 
watch. 

At the time of the transfer to the United States, 
the public property consisted of two large brick 
stores, running from the levee on each side of Main 
street, (which were burnt in 1822,) — a government 
house, at the corner of Levee and Toulouse streets, 
(which also suffered a similar fate in 1826,) — a 
military hospital, and a powder magazine, on the 
opposite side of the river, which was abandoned a 
few years since — an old frame custom house — ex- 
tensive barracks below those now remaining — five 
miserable redoubts, a town house, market house, 
assembly room and prison, a cathedral and pres- 
bytery, and a charity hospital. At this memorable 
era, the grounds which now constitute that thriving 
portion of the city, known as the second munici- 
pality, were mostly used as a plantation. It was 



QG NEW ORLEANS. 

the property of a wealthy citizen named Gravier, 
after whom one of the principal streets that runs 
through the property has been called. How has 
the scene changed ? At this moment it contains 
a population of nearly fifty thousand, and has be- 
come the centre of the business, and enterprize, 
and beauty of the city. 

In 1804 New Orleans was made a port of entry 
and delivery, and Bayou St. John a port of delivery. 
The first act of incorporation was granted to 
the city, by the legislative council of the territory, 
in 1805, under the style of "the Mayor, Alder- 
men and inhabitants of the city of New Orleans." 
The officers were a mayor, recorder, fourteen 
aldermen, and a treasurer. This year, a branch of 
the United States bank was established in this 
capital. 

The population of the city and suburbs, in 
1810, amounted to 24,552 ; having been trebled 
in seven years, under the administration of its 
new government. The prosperity of its trade 
increased in an equal ratio. 

At that time, the city extended no further down 
than Esplanade street, with the exception of here 
and there a villa scattered along the levee ; nor 
above, further than Canal street, unless occasion- 
ally a house occupying a square of ground. A 
few dwellings had been erected on Canal and 
Magazine streets, but it was considered to be get- 



NEW ORLEANS. 



ting quite into the country, to go beyond the Pola?- 
Star Lodge, which was at the corner of Camp and 
Gravier streets. [The progress of this municipality 
has been greatly increased by the act for the 
division of the city, passed by the Legislature in 
1836, by which the second municipality acquired 
the exclusive control of its own affairs.] 

There was not then a paved street in the city. 
The late Benjamin Morgan, who, some time after, 
made the first attempt, was looked upon as a vision- 
ary. The circumstance which gave an impulse to 
improvements in the second municipality, was the 
erection of the American theatre, on Camp street, 
by James H. Caldwell, Esq., the only access to 
which, for long a time, was over fiat-boat gunwales. 
This was in 1823-4. He was ridiculed for his 
folly, and derided as a madman — but time proved 
his foresight. He was soon followed by a crowd 
that gave life and energy to that section; and, in 
a few years, through the enterprise of others of a 
similar spirit, the suburb of St. Mary has reached 
to its present advanced state of elegance and pros- 
perity. I 

The block where the Merchants' Exchange has 
since been built, was then occupied by a row of 
frail wooden shanties ; and the corner of Royal 
and Custom house streets, where the bank now 
stands, was tenanted by Scot, who now furnishes 
food for his hundreds a day directly opposite, and 



68 NEW ORLEANS, 

who laid the foundation of his fortune, in the tene- 
ment that was removed to make room for the pre- 
sent beautiful edifice- 

Some of the old Frenchmen in the city proper, 
who have rarely trusted themselves three squares 
beyond their favorite cabaret, are very incredulous 
of the reported progress and improvement in the 
fauxbourg St. Mary. A few years since, a gen- 
tleman of the second municipality asked the old 
cabaret keeper, who has made himself illustrious 
and wealthy by vending, to the habitues of the 
lower market, a drink of his own compounding, 
called pig and whistle — why he did not come up 
into the fauxbourg St. Mary, and see the buildings? 
— at the same time describing the St. Charles Ex- 
change, the Theatre, the Verandah, Banks'Arcade, 
the magnificent stores, &;c. The old Frenchman, 
listened in doubting wonder for some time ; at 
last, however, his faith and his gravity both gave 
way, and he burst into a laugh, exclaiming, " ah 
Monsieur B. dat is too much ! You von varry 
funny fellow — I no believe vat you say — its only 
von grand — vot you call it — vere de mud, de alli- 
gator, and de bull frog live ? — von grand — grand 
— mud swamp, vere you say is von grand city, I 
no believe it !" 

The city proper is bounded by Canal, Rampart, 
and Esplanade streets, and on the river by the 
levee, on which it extended about thirteen hundred 



NEW ORLEANS. 69 

yards, and back about seven hundred — in the form 
of a parallelogram. 

This portion is traversed by twenty-two streets, 
forming eighty-four principal and fourteen minor 
squares. The whole extent of the city, including 
the incorporated fauxbourgs and Lafayette, is not 
less than five miles on a line with the river, and 
runninsr an average of half a mile in width. 

The houses are chiefly constructed with bricks, 
except a few ancient and dilapidated dwellings in 
the heart of the city, and some new ones in the 
outskirts. Wooden buildings are not permitted 
to be built, under present regulations, within what 
are denominated the fire limits. The modern 
structures, particularly in the second municipality, 
are generally three and four stories high, and are 
embellished with handsome and substantial granite 
or marble fronts. The public buildings are 
numerous ; and many of them will vie with any of 
the kind in our sister cities. A particular descrip- 
tion of these will be found in the ensuing pages. 

The view of New Orleans from the river, in as- 
cending or descending, is beautiful and imposing — 
seen from the dome of the St. Charles Exchange, it 
presents a panorama at once magnificent and sur- 
prising. In taking a lounge through the lower 
part of the city, the stranger finds a difficulty in 
believing himself to be in an American city. The 
older buildings are of ancient and foreign construe- 



70 NEW ORLEANS. 

tion, and the manners, customs and language are 
various — the population being composed, in nearly- 
equal proportions, of American, French, Creoles, 
and Spaniards, together with a large portion 
of Germans, and a good sprinkling from almost 
every other nation upon the globe. 

The Water Works constantly supply the people 
with water forced from the Mississippi, by the 
agency of steam, into a reservoir, whence by 
pipes it is sent all over the city. This water is 
wholesome and palatable. 

Gas was introduced into New Orleans, through 
the enterprize of James H. Caldwell, Esq., in 
1834 ; he having lighted his theatre with it several 
years previous. The dense part of the city is 
now lighted by it ; and the hotels, stores, shops, 
and many dwelling-houses within reach, have 
availed themselves of the advantages it offers. 

In the summer of 1844, a fire destroyed about 
seven blocks of buildings between Common and 
Canal streets, near the charity Hospital. The 
ground has since been occupied with much better 
buildings, and presents a very improved appear- 
ance. 

The population of New Orleans, after it was 
ceded to the United States, increased very rapidly. 
At the time of the transfer, there were not eight 
thousand inhabitants. 



NEW ORLEANS. 



71 



In 1810 
1815 
1820 
1825 
1830 
1840 



Blacks. 
8001 



19,737 



Whites. 
16,551 



21,614 



28,530 



Total 
24,552 
32,947 
41,350 
45,336 
49,826 
102,191 



and, at the present period there are, probably one 
hundred and thirty thousand. During 1844 there 
were more buildings erected than any previous 
year — notwithstanding which, tenements are in 
great demand, and rents continue high. It will 
not be a matter of surprize, if the number of in- 
habitants at the next census, 1850, should be over 
one hundred and sixty thousand. 

The first ordinance for the establishment of a 
board of health in this city, (so far as known, )was 
passed by the general council in June, of 1841,* 
The board consisted of nine members — three al- 
dermen, three physicians, and three private citi- 
zens. It Avas invested with ample powers to adopt 
and enforce such sanitary regulations as were 
thought conducive to the health of the city. This 
board performed all its functions well during the 
first year of its existence. The second year there 
was a falling off; but a dissolution did not take 
place till 1843. In 1844, the board of health 



* See New Orleans Medical Journal; vol. 1, part 2, July, 1S44. 



72 NEW ORLEANS. 

having ceased to officiate, the general council invi- 
ted the medico-chirurgical society to take charge 
of this duty. This proposition was accepted, and 
a committee of nine members appointed, with full 
power to act as aboard of health. If this body do 
their duty, as there is no reason to doubt they will, 
much benefit may be expected to result. Their 
advice to citizens, and strangers who were unacli- 
mated, on the approach of the warm weather of 
1844, was certainly marked with a great degree 
of good sense and seasonable caution. They will 
now be looked up to as the great conservators of the 
health of the city ; and, it is to be hoped that pub- 
lic expectation will not be disappointed. 

The following abstract of a Meteorological Jour- 
nal for 1844 was obligingly furnished by D. T. 
Lillie, Esq., of New Orleans, a gentleman whose 
scientific acquirements are a sure guaranty for 
its accuracy. The thermometer (a self register- 
ing one) used for these observations, is not attach- 
ed to the barometer, and is placed in a fair 
exposure. Hours of observation, 8 A. M., 2 P. M., 
and 8 P. M. The barometer is located at an 
elevation of 28 feet above the level of the ocean ; 
and is suspended clear of the wall of the building. 
The rain guage is graduated to the thousandth 
part of an inch, and the receiver of it is elevated 
40 feet from the ground. 



NEW ORLEANS. 



METEOROLOGICAL TABLE. 



73 





Thermometer.' Barometer. 


"~" 




auan. j 


1844. 
Months. 




! 

1 


tjC '=® 


of Rain.l 


Max. 
Icnths. 

tenths. 

tenths. 

Max. 
hund. 


2 1 

o 


^1 


S !0 

c: a 


1^ 


1 


4 

c 

3 

I 


January, 


79.5 36.5| 43.0 30.38 


29.73 


0.65 


11 


S. E. 


2.4 


4 


966 


February, 


81.0 40.0 41.0 30.40 


29.91 


0.49 


5 S. E. 


2.4 





879 


March, 


83.0 38.0 4.5.0 30.40 


29.83 


0.57 


9N. W. 


3.0 


3 


031 


April, 


85.0 40.0 45.0 30.46 


29.98 


0.48 


3 S. E. 


2.5 


1 


797 


May, 


88.5 66 22.5 30.31 


29.83 


0.48 


9 S. W. 


2.7 


4 


847 


June, 


91.0 69.0 22.0 30.18 30 03 


0.15 


12 S. 


2.3 


5 


'789 


July, 


92.5 73.0 19.5 30.22130.01 


0.21 


16 S. W. 


2.2 


9 


801 


August, 


92.5 69.0 23.5 30 26 29.93 


0.33 


14 S.W. 


2.4 


5 


199 


September, 


91.5 61.0 30.5 30.23 29 95 


0.28 


8, E. 


2.5 


] 


080 


October, 


85.5 46.0 39.5 30.31,29.89 


0.42 


i- N. E. 


2.5 


2 


180 


November, 


74.0 40.0 34.0 30.34 29.94] 0.40 


9| N. 


2.2 


7 


754 


December, 


74.5 32.5 42.0 30.44 29.83| 0.61 


41 N. 


2.4 
2.5 


1 


077 


Ann'l Mean, 


84.9 50.9 33.9 30.33 


29.90 


0.42 


^ 




48! 400J 



Annual range of the thermometer 
barometer 00. degrees 73 hundreths. 



degrees minutes— of the 



Society, as at present constituted in New Orleans, 
has very little resemblance to that of any other 
city in the Union. It is made up of a heteroge- 
neous mixture of almost all nations. First, and 
foremost, is the Creole population. All who are 
born here, come under this designation, without 
reference to the birth place of their parents. They 
form the foundation, on which the superstructure 
of what is termed " society," is erected. They are 
remarkably exclusive in their intercourse with 
others, and, with strangers, enter into business 
arrangements with extreme caution. They were 
4 



74 NEW ORLEANS. 

once, and very properly, considered as the patri- 
cians of the land. But they are not more distin- 
guished for their exclusiveness, and pride of family, 
than for their habits of punctuality, temperance, 
and good faith. 

Till about the commencement of the present 
century, the period of the transfer of Louisiana to 
the United States, the Creoles were almost entirely 
of French and Spanish parentage. Now, the in- 
dustrious Germans, the shrewd and persevering 
Irishmen, are beginning to be quite numerous, and 
many of them have advanced to a condition of 
wealth and- respectability. 

Next come the emigrants from the sister States, 
from the mighty west, from the older sections of 
the south, and (last not least) from the colder re- 
gions of the north, the enterprising, calculating, 
hardy Yankee. To the latter class this emporium 
is indebted, for many of those vast improvements 
which, as if by magic, have risen to the astonish- 
ment and confusion of those of the ancient regime, 
who live in a kind of seclusion within the limits of 
the city proper— Xo whom beautiful and extensive 
blocks of buildings have appeared in the morning, 
as though they had sprung up by enchantment 
during the night. 

Then come the nondescript watermen. Our 
river steam navigation, averaging, during half the 
year, some three hundred arrivals per month, fur- 



NEW ORLEANS. 75 

nishes a class often thousand men, who have few if 
any parallels in the world. The numberless flat- 
boats that thronjT the levees for an immense dis- 
tance, are peopled and managed by an amphibious 
race of human beings, whose mode of living is 
much like that of the alligator, with whom they 
ironically claim relationship, but who carry under 
their rough exterior and uncouth manners, a heart 
as generous and noble, as beats in any human 
breast. They are the children of the Mississippi, 
as the Arabs are of the great desert, and, like them, 
accustomed to encounter danger in every shape. 
Combining all the most striking peculiarities of the 
common sailor, the whaleman, the backwoodsman, 
and the Yankee, without imitating, or particularly 
resembling any one of them, they are a class en 
tirely by themselves, unique, eccentric, original, 
a distinct and unmistakeable feature in the floating- 
mass that swarms on the levees, and threads the 
streets, of the cresent city. 

Among them may be found the representatives 
of nearly all the states. Some are descendants of 
the Pilgrims, and have carried with them the 
industrious habits, and the strict moral princi- 
ples, of their Puritan forefathers, into the wilds 
of the West. They are all active, enterpri- 
sing, fearless, shrewd, independent, and self-suffi- 
cien!, and often aspiring and ambitious, as our 
halls of legislation, and our highest business circles 



76 NEW ORLEANS. 

can testify. They are just the stuff to lay the 
broad foundations of freedom in a new country 
— able to clear the forest, and till the soil, in time 
of peace, to defend it in war, and to govern it at 
all times. 

Of the one hundred and thirty thousand souls, 
who now occupy this capital, about twenty thousand 
may be estimated as migratory. These are princi- 
pally males, engaged in the various departments 
of business. Some of them have families at the 
North, where they pass the summer. Many are 
bachelors, who have no home for one half the year, 
and, if the poets are to be believed, less than half 
a home for the remainder. As these two classes 
of migratory citizens, who live at the hotels and 
boarding houses, embrace nearly, if not quite, one 
half the business men of the city, it may serve to 
some extent, to account for the seemingly severe re- 
strictions by which the avenues to good native so- 
ciety are protected. Unexceptionable character, 
certified beyond mistake, is the only passport to the 
domestic circle of the Creole. With such creden- 
tials their hospitality knows no limits. The resi- 
dent Americans are less suspicious in admitting you 
to their hospitality, though not more liberal than 
their Creole neighbors, when once their confidence 
is secured. 

The restrictions thus thrown around society, and 
the great difficulty which the new comer experien- 



NEW ORLEANS. 77 

ces in securing a share in those social enjoyments 
to which he has been accustomed in other places, 
have had an unfavorable effect upon the morals 
of the place. Having no other resource for pas- 
time, when the hours of business are over, he flies 
to such public entertainments as the city affords. 
And if these are not always what they should 
be, it behooves us to provide better. Public libra- 
ries, reading rooms, galleries for the exhibition of 
the fine arts, lyceums for lectures, and other 
kindred rational amusements, would do much to 
establish a new and better order, and to break 
down those artificial barriers, which separate so 
many refined and pure minded men from the 
pleasures and advantages of general society, con- 
demning them to live alone and secluded, in 
the midst of all that is lovely and attractive in the 
social relations of life. 

The character of New-Orleans, in respect to 
health, has been much and unjustly abused. At 
the north, in ratio to their population, the consump- 
tion annually destroys more than the yellow fever 
of the south. The city of New York averages 
about thirty a week. Patients with pulmonary 
complaints, resort to these latitudes for relief, 
where such diseases are otherwise rarely known. 
In truth, this capital shows a more favourable bill 
of mortality, than any seaport town in the United 
States, except Charleston and Baltimore. 



78 NEW ORLEANS, 

There is little to be said in favor of the morals 
of New Orleans, during the first few years after its 
cession. Report made them much worse than 
they were. As the community was composed of 
some of the worst classes of society, gathered from 
every region under the sun, nothing very good was 
to be expected. But circumstances have changed. 
A system of wholesome police regulations has 
been introduced and enforced, which has either 
brought the desperate and the lawless under subjec- 
tion, or expelled them from the community. By re- 
ference to the statistics of crime, in other -commer- 
cial cities in proportion to thenumber of inhabitants, 
the stransjer will be convinced that this City has 
reason to be proud ef her standing. Riots her«.. 
are unknown, robberies seldom occur. Person-.;! 
security in the public streets, at all hours, is never 
endangered — and females may venture out after 
dark, without a protector, and be free frc^h insult 
and molestation. Foreign influence has entailed 
upon society here a code of honor which; in some 
measure, has had a tendency to -ijure it, butthe 
false notion is fast falling into disrepute. 

The new state constitution, if adopted, will put 
an effectual stop to this barbarous^ practice. Arti- 
cle 130, reads, 

"Any Citizen of this State who shall, after the 
adoption of this constitution, fight a duel with 
deadly weapons, or send a challenge to fight a duel, 



NEW ORLEANS. 7& 

either within the state, or out of it, or who shall act 
as second, or knowingly aid and assist in any man- 
ner those thus offending, shall be deprived of 
holding any office of trust or profit, and of enjoy- 
ing the right of suffrage under this Constitution." 

The learned professions here, generally, stand 
preeminently high. The science of medicine 
may boast of a talent, and a skill, that would confer 
honor upon any city in the Union — and the few 
empirics who disgrace the practice, are so well 
known, that the evil is circumscribed within very 
narrow limits. The clergy are proverbial for 
their learning and eloquence — and the same 
remarks will apply with equal force to th^ mem- 
hers of the bar. 

This city, at the present time, possesses no public 
library. Considering the population, and their 
ability, this must be regarded as a blot upon the 
intelligence of its citizens. This is completely a 
commercial community, however, and money is the 
universal ambition. Thence springs that acknow- 
ledged deficiency in literature and the fine arts, ob- 
servable to the stranger. But shall it still remain ? 
Is there no Girard — no Astor — among our million- 
aires, who will leave behind them a monument 
which shall make their names dearer and more 
honored in all coming time, than those of heroes 
and conquerors? 

Afier several attempts to establish a library, 
an association of young men, some years ago, at 



80 NEW ORLEANS. 

last succeeded in organizing one ; but. for want 
of proper aid and support from the rich, it lingered 
on for some time, and was finally sold out by the 
sheriff! It then consisted of four or five thousand 
volumes of well selected books. It was purchased 
by a private gentleman, B. F. French, Esq. for a 
mere nominal sum. Thus has a work intended 
for the honor of the city, become, in an evil hour, 
the monument of its shame ! It is soothing 
however, to learn that, at length, a love of letters 
and the fine arts is springing up in our midst. 
Under the head of Lyceums, National Gallery of 
Paintings, and Public Schools, in this volume, facts 
illustrative of this assertion may be seen. 

The Masonic fraternity in New Orleans appear 
to enjoy all their ancient privileges. There are 
some ten lodges, besides a grand lodge, and an en- 
campment. Here is a large number of the order 
of Odd Fellows, as one of Equal Fellows— a Typo- 
graphical Association, and Mechanics, Hibernian, 
St. Andrews, German, and Swiss societies. These 
are all, more or less, of a benevolent nature ; and 
within their own circles, have all been extremely 
serviceable. 

The navisration of the Mississippi, even by steam 
boats, in 1818, was extremely tedious. The Etna 
is recorded as arriving at Shipping port, a few miles 
below Louisville, in ililrty two days. The Gov- 
ernor Shelby in twenty two days, was considered as 



NEW ORLEANS. 81 

a remarkably short passage. An hermaphrodite 
brig was seventy one days from New Orleans — and 
a keel boat one hundred and one ; the latter to 
Louisville. Now, the time occupied is^?5e to six 
days. 

During the business season, which continues 
from the first of November to J'uly, the levee, for 
an extent of five miles, is crowded with vessels of 
all sizes, but more especially ships, from every 
part of the world — with hundreds of immense- 
floating castles and palaces, called steam boats ; 
and barges and flat boats innumerable. No place 
can present a more busy, bustling scene. The load- 
ing and unloading of vessels and steam boats — the 
transportation, by some three thousand drays, of cot 
ton, sugar, tobacco, and the various and extensive 
produce of the great west, strikes the stranger with 
wonder and admiration. The levee and piers that 
range along the whole length of the city, extending 
back on an average of some two hundred feet, are 
continually covered with moving merchandize. 
This was once a pleasant promenade, where the 
citizen enjoyed his delightful morning and eveninr^; 
walk ; but now there is scarcely room, amid hogs 
heads, bales and boxes, for the business man to 
crowd along, without a sharp look out for his per- 
sonal safety. 

The position of New Orleans, as a vast com- 
mercial emporium, is unrivalled — as will be seen 
4* 



82 NEW ORLEANS. 

by a single glance at the map of the United States. 
As the depot of the west, and the half-way-house 
of foreign trade, it is almost impossible to anticipate 
its future magnitude. 

Take a view, for instance, of the immense regions 
known under the name of the Mississippi valley. 
Its boundaries on the west are the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and Mexico ; on the south, the Gulf of 
Mexico ; on the east the Alleghany mountains ; 
and, on the north, the lakes and the British posses- 
sions. It contains nearly as many square miles, 
and more tillable ground, than all continental Eu- 
rope, and, if peopled as densely as England, would 
sustain a population of five hundred millions — more 
than half of the present inhabitants of the earth. 
Its surface is generally cultivable, and its soil 
rich, with a climate varying to suit all products, 
for home consumption or a foreign market. The 
Mississippi is navigable twenty one hundred miles 
— passing a small portage, three thousand may be 
achieved. It embraces the productions of many 
climates, and a mining country abounding in coal, 
lead, iron and copper ore, all found in veins of 
wonderful richness. The Missouri stretches thir- 
ty nine hundred miles to the Great Falls, among 
the Flat Foot Indians, and five thousand from 
New Orleans. The Yellow Stone, navigable for 
eleven hundred miles, the Platte for sixteen hun- 
dred, and the Kanzas for twelve hundred, are only 



NEW ORLEANS. 



tributaries to the latter river. The Ohio is two 
thousand miles to Pittsburgh, receiving into her bo- 
som from numerous streams, the products of New 
York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Western 
Virginia, Tennesee, Indiana and Illinois. The 
Arkansas, Big Black, Yazoo, Red River, and many 
others, all pouring their wealth into the main artery, 
the Mississippi, upon whose mighty current it floats 
down to the grand reservoir. New Orleans. 

The Mississippi valley contained over eight mil- 
lions of inhabitants in 1840, having gained eighty 
per cent., during the last ten years. The present 
number cannot be less than ten millions. 

The last year, the Mississippi was navigated by 
four hundred and fifty steam boats, many of which 
are capable of carrying 2,500 bales of cotton, ma- 
king an aggregate tonnage of ninety thousand. 
They cost above seven millions of dollars ; and to 
navii,',ate them, required nearly fifteen thousand 
persons — the estimated expense of their navigation 
is over thirteen millions of dollars. The increase 
since, may be calculated at fifty additional boats — 
which would make an advance in all these items 
in a ratio of ten per cent. 

Such statements as these, large as they seem, 
convey to the reader but a partial idea of the great 
valley, and of the wide extent of country upon 
which this city leans, and which guaranties her 
present and future prosperity. To form a full 



/ 



84 NEW ORLEANS. 

estimate, he must, besides all this, see her moun- 
tains of iron, and her inexaustible veins of lead 
and copper ore, and almost boundless regions of 
coal. The first article mentioned (and the phrase 
in which it is expressed is no figure of speech) has 
been pronounced, by the most scientific assayer of 
France, to be superior to the best Swedish iron. 
These, and a thousand unenumerated products, 
beside the well known staples, constitute its wealth; 
all of which by a necessity of nature, must flow 
through our Cresent City, to find an outlet into the 
great world of commerce. With such resources 
nothincr short of some dreadful convulsion of na- 
ture, or the more dreadful calamity of war, can pre- 
vent New Orleans from l)ecoming, if not the first, 
next in commercial importance to the first city 
in the United States — perhaps, in the world. The 
flourishing towns upon the Mississippi and her tri- 
butaries, are merely the depositories for this great 
mart. In twenty years she must, according to her 
present increase, contain a population of three hun- 
dred thousand, with a trade proportionably extended. 
With such views, it may be deemed folly to 
attempt to look forward to the end of the nine- 
teenth century, when this metropolis will in all 
probability extend back to lake Pontchartrain, and 
to Carrolton on the course of the river. The 
swamps, that now only echo to the hoarse bellow- 
ing of the alligator, will then be densely built upon> 



NEW ORLEANS. 85 

and rendered cheerful by the gay voices of its 
inhabitants, numbering at least 'Sr. million of human 
beings. If, like Rip Van Winkle, we may be 
permitted to come back after the lapse of half a 
century, with what surprize and astonishment 
shall we witness the change which the enlerprize 
of man will have wrought. But let us not waste 
a moment in dreaming about it. Let us be up 
and doing, to fulfil our part of the mighty achieve- 
ment. It would not be strange, however, if the 
present map, which is given to show the rapid 
growth of the city, by comparison with one drawn 
in 1728, should then be republished with a similar 
design, to exhibit the insignificance of New Or- 
leans in 1845 ! We ask the kindness of the cri- 
tics of that period, should they deign to turn over 
these pages, begging them to consider that our 
humble work was produced fas ar back as the be- 
nighted age of steam ! 




PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



Having noticed, in the preceding sketch, the 
most prominent features in the history of this in- 
teresting section of country, it becomes a duty 
now to present to the intelligent reader, and more 
especially to the inquiring traveller, a description 
of such of the public institutions, buildings, and 
places of resort, for business and amusement, as 
may be deemed worthy of his attention. In attain- 
ing this object, it was necessary to have recourse to 
the most carefully digested statements of facts now 
existing, as well as to collect others from personal 
inspection. 

THE UNITED STATES BARRACKS. 

The buildings formerly used for the accommo- 
dation of the troops garrisoned in New Orleans, 
were erected by the French about a century since. 
These were directed to be sold in 1828, and ten 
years after were demolished. The act was soon 
discovered to be an error, and in 1833, the gover- 
ment determined to replace them. A plan was 
accordingly forwarded to the seat of government 
and approved. On account of the difficulty of ob- 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 87 

taining a suitable site within the incorporated limits, 
a location was selected, by assistant quarter master 
Drane, about three miles below the city. The 
works were begun the 24th of February, 1834, and 
completed on the 1st of December, 1835, at a 
cost, including the enclosure of the public grounds, 
of $182,000. The late Assistant quarter master 
J. Clark, superintended the operation, aided by 
Lieutenant J. Wilkinson, who had furnished the 
plans. 

The Barracks occupy a parallelogram of about 
three hundred feet on the river, by nine hundred 
in depth. The ground in the rear belongs to the 
general government, to the depth of forty arpents, 
and can be used for the benefit of the troops. 
The garrison was intended to consist of four com- 
panies of infantry, but ample accomodation exists 
for a much larger number. The quarters of the 
commandant occupy the middle of the front ; 
those of the staff and company officers being on 
either flank. The companies are quartered in a 
hollow square, which is thrown back far enough 
to give space for a handsome parade ground. in 
tlie rear of ihpse quarters are the hospital, store- 
house, and corps des garde, and still in rear, and 
beyond the walls, is the post magazine, as well as 
other buildings necessary for the comfort and con- 
venience of the troops. In front of the whole is 
a commodious wharf for the landing of supplies. 



88 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




Tim UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT 

Is situated on what was once called Jackson 
Square, being nearly the former site of fort St. 
Charles. It is an edifice of the Ionic order, of 
brick plastered to imitate granite, having a centre 
building projecting, with two wings ; is strongly 
built, with very thick walls, and well finished. 
Our limits will not permit us to go into a detailed 
description of its interior arrangements ; which, 
however, may be generally spoken of as such as 
not to discredit the distinguished engineer who 
planned it. The total length of the edifice is 282 
feet, and the depth about 108 — the wings being 29 
by 81, and the whole three stories in height. It 
was begun in September, 1835 ; and the building 
was perfectly completed at a cost of §182,000. 
The machinery is elegant and highly finished, 



PUBLIC BUILDINaS. 89 

and, when in operation, proves an interesting sight 
to visitors ; which, from the gentlemanly urbanity 
of the officers of the establishment, may be easily 
enjoyed. The square is surrounded by a neat 
iron railing on a granite basement. The coinage 
of 1844— gold, f 3,010,000~silver; $1,198,500— 
making in all $4,208,500. 

THE CUSTOM, HOUSE. 

This establishment is conducted in an old build- 
ing, quite too small, even if the United States 
Courts did not occupy a considerable portion of 
it. The square, in the centre of which it. stands, 
is about 300 feet each on Old Levee, Custom- 
House, Front- Levee and Canal streets ; and, from 
its peculiarly happy location, is. well calculated 
for publi<3 improvement. Considering the great 
commercial importance of New-Orleans, as being 
scarcely second to any city in the Union, it is 
a matter of congratulation that the government are 
now disposed to place her upon a more respectable 
footing, in regard to offices of this nature ; which 
have been furnished in a princely style to some of 
the sea-ports that had less need of them. The 
immense revenue that flows into the treasury de- 
partment here, demands a suitable edifice for the 
transaction of the business it creates. The site 
is the most eligible that can be imagined. The Post- 
Office, United States Courts, and warehouses for 



90 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

the storage of bonded merchandize, can all have 
ample accommodation within its limits; and a more 
desirable location for them cannot be found. An 
appropriation of $500 was made at the last 
session of Congress, to secure a suitable plan for 
the buildings to cover this spot. The plan has 
been prepared by Mr. Gallier, and is highly ap- 
proved by those who have examined it. It is to 
be hoped there will be no unnecessary delay in 
completing a work, in which the public conveni- 
ence and economy, as well the accommodation of 
the mercantile community, is so deeply interes- 
ted. If Mr. Gallier's plan is adopted, all the 
above departments will be clusterecl together in 
one central spot, with ample room for each, and 
in a structure that will be at the same time a du- 
rable ornament to the city, and an honor to the 
nation. 

THE POST OFFICE, 

Is located in the Merchants' Exchange. It 
has two business fronts, besides a passage way 
through the building, where letters and pacltages 
are received for mailing. The private boxes have 
their delivery here, where also the publishers of 
newspapers receive their exchanges and commu- 
nications. The general delivery for English let- 
ters is in Exchange Place, those for letters in the 
foreign languages, and for the ladies, are on Royal 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 91 

street. The edifice seems to answer the purpose 
well ; and, considering the extent of the establish- 
ment, the duties of the office have been managed 
much to the satisfaction of the public. But we 
look for something more worthy of the place, 
when the new Custom House shall rear its noble 
front to the father of rivers. 

THE STATE HOUSE, 

Formerly the Charity Hospital, and purchas- 
ed by the state in 1834, is a plain structure, com- 
posed of a centre and two detached wings ; and is 
finely situated on the square enclosed by Canal, 
Baronne, Common and Philippa streets. The main 
entrance to the square, which is laid off as a plea- 
sure ground, and well kept, is from Canal street. 
The principal building is occupied by chambers 
for the senate, and the house — that for the latter 
being recently constructed. There are also suit- 
able rooms for the different clerks, and offices re- 
quired by the public business. The chamber for 
the house of representatives is handsome, but, like 
some others in more conspicuous places, badly 
adapted to public speaking. 

In the right wing of the building is the office of 
the adjufant general of Louisiana ; it is also used 
as a temporary armory, until the law for the erec- 
tion of a new one is carried into execution. The 
left room is occupied by offices for the governor, 



92 



PUBLIC EWILDINGS. 



secretary of state, state treasurer, and civil engi- 
neer. 

The whole was built in 1815. It is in contem- 
plation to erect an edifice more worthy of the state, 
but when this will be done, or where located, is as 
yet undetermined. It will probably not be within 
the precincts of our city, as the late convention 
provides that the Legislature shall not hold its ses- 
sions hereafter within sixty miles of New Orleans. 
It is doubtless intended that the public servants 
shall do more work, and less eating, drinking 8>nd 
oa.rousing, than they have heretofore done. 




JJ- J.^^'-l.^.^ THE CATHEDRAL, 

Or Church of St. Louis, is the principal and 
centre of three buildings which stand on Chartres 
street, immediately opposite to the Place d'ArmeSj 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 93 

or Parade Ground. This edifice forcibly strikes 
the stranger by its venerable and antique appear- 
ance. There is perhaps, none in the Union which 
is on this account more impressive. The foun- 
dation of the building was laid in 1792, and it 
was, to a certain extent, completed in 1794, at the 
expense of Don Andre Almonaster, perpetual regi- 
dor, and Alvarez Real. 

The architecture of the Cathedral is by no 
means pure, but is not wanting in effect on this 
account. The lower story is of the rustic order, 
flanked at each of the front angles by hexagonal 
towers, projecting one half of their diameter, show- 
ing below Tuscan antes at each angle, and above 
pilasters of plain mason-work, in the same Style, 
with antique wreaths on the frieze of the entabla- 
tures. These towers are crowned by low spires, 
erected after Latrobe's designs, about 1814. 

The grand entrance to the Cathedral is in the 
middle of the front, being a semicircular arched 
door, with two clustered Tuscan columns on either 
side. This entrance is flanked by two smaller 
doors, similar to the principal one. 

The second story of the front has the same gen- 
eral appearance, as to the number of columns &c. 
as the lowerone, but isof the Roman Doric order. 
Above, and corresponding to the main entrance, is 
a circular window, with niches on either side, 
above the flanking doors below. On the apex of 



94 PUBLIC BUILDIN&S. 

the pediment of this story rises the chief turret, 
being in the Tuscan style, and in two parts — the 
lower being square, about twenty feet in height, 
with circular apertures on each side ; the upper 
hexagonal, having a belfry, with apertures at the 
sides for letting out the sound, flanked by antes. 
The proportions of the order are not observed in 
this belfry, which was erected about 1824, by 
Le Riche. 

The Cathedral has a tenure, to speak in legal 
phrase, of every Saturday evening offering masses 
for the soul of its founder, Don Andre. The re- 
quirement is faithfully observed, for as the day 
returns, at set of sun, the mournful sound of the 
tolling bell recalls the memory of the departed. 
This building is almost inseparably connected, in 
the minds of the old residents, with the memory 
of the venerable Pere Antonio de Sedella, curate 
of the parish for nearly fifty years. This excel- 
lent old mar., adored for his universal benevo- 
lence, came to Louisiana, then a province, in 
1779, and is supposed to have performed nearly 
one half of the marriage and funeral ceremonies 
of its inhabitants, until the period of his death, at 
the ripe age of nearly ninety years, in 1837. 
This venerated relic of by gone days lies hur- 
ried at the foot of the altar. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



95 




ST. PATRICK S CHURCH, 

Is situated in Camp-street, near Lafayette 
square. The design is a triumph worthy of the 
genius of Gothic architecture, whether the dimen- 
sions, or the splendor of the structure be consid- 
ered. 

The measurement is 93 feet by 164 on the 
ground ; and from the side walk to the summit of 
the tower, 190. The style is taken from the fa- 
mous York Minster Cathedral, and executed agree- 
ably to the designs of Messrs. Dakin & Dakin, 
which were adopted by the trustees of the church. 
It surpasses e^ery attempt at a similar order on 
this side of the Atlantic, and when completed, may 
proudly challenge comparison with any modern pa- 
rochial edifice in Europe. It cost about $100,000. 



96 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH. 

This structure, erected in 1841, stands on St. 
Claude street, corner of Bayou road. It is about 
50 feet front by 90 deep. The architect, l\Ir. 
Depouilly, has displayed an excellent taste in its 
construction. The style is of a mixed order, but 
extremely neat — ai^d in such good keeping, that 
the interior has the appearance of being much 
smaller than it actually measures. The decora- 
tions are worthy of the sacredness of the place. 
The colored glass of the windows throws a 
beautiful mellowed light across the aisles, produ- 
cing a chastened effect suited to the solemnity of 
the place. Immediately over the altar is a full 
length painting of the tutelar saint, which is exe- 
cuted with the bold hand of a master. At the 
right of this is the Virgin Mary, little inferior to 
the first, but finished with much greater delicacy 
of touch. Our Saviour is conspicuously represen- 
ted in the ceiling, over the centre — around which, 
on the gallery below, and between the windows, 
are portraits of the saints, arranged in the pannel- 
work. Take this church altogether, it is one of the 
neatest houses of devotion in this city. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 97 

ST. antoine's, or the mortuary chapel. 

On account of the great increase in the popula- 
tion of the city, and consequent greater num- 
ber of interments, objection was made, about the 
year 1822, to the performance of services for the 
dead in the Cathedral, it bsing in a very prom- 
inent and public situation. Under these circum- 
stances, the city made a grant of a piece of land 
at the corner of Conti and Rampart streets, to the 
foundation of the Church of St. Louis, on condition 
of their erecting upon the same, a chapel, as a place 
for the performance of the funeral ceremonies, 
in conformity to the catholic ritual. In pursuance 
of this intention, a cross, marking the present site 
of the altar of the chapel, was placed there with 
proper ceremonies, on the 10th of October, 1826, 
and on the following morning the building was be- 
gun. Its erection was prosecuted at the expense 
of the catholic foundation, and completed within a 
year after its commencement, at a cost of about 
816,000. 

It is a plain but very neat edifice, of the Gothic 
composite order ; and was dedicated to the most 
holy St. Antony of Padua, as its guardian. All 
funeral ceremonies of catholics are performed 
there. 



98 



PUBLIC BmLDINOS. 




THE CHAPEL OF THE URSrLINES. 

An edifice strongly characteristic of our city, 
and well calculated to cause reflection on the many 
and sudden changes of dynasty to which New 
Orleans has been subjected. This building, of a 
quaint old style of architecture, was erected, 
according to a Spanish inscription on a marble 
tablet in the middle of the fagade, in 1787, during 
the feign of Carlos III, (Don Estevan Miro being 
governor of the province,) by Don Andre Almo- 
naster Y Roxas. It is exceedingly plain and 
unpretending in its exterior, and chiefly interesting 
from its associations, and extremely antiquated 
appearance. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



99 




CHRIST CHURCH, (EPISCOPAL.) 

A fine Ionic building, situated on Canal, at the 
corner of Bourbon street, was designed by Gallier 
and Dakin, architects, and its erection begun in 
the autumn of 1835, under the direction of Mr. D. 
H. Toogood. It was completed in the summer 
of 1837, and consecrated during the same year. 
The cost of the edifice was about $70,000. The 
form of the ceiling, being a flat dome, is much 
admired. The Rev. Dr. Hawkes is pastor of this 
church. 



ST. Paul's church, (episcopal.) 

This is a neat frame structure, located on the 
corner of Camp and Bartholomew streets. The 
Rev. Mr. Goodrich officiates in this church. 



100 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 



THE ANNUNCIATION CHURCH, (EPISCOPAL,) 

Is to occupy a conspicious place near Annunci- 
ation Square. The location was selected with 
good taste, both in regard to the beauty of the 
position, and to the great improvements of the 
neighbourhood. The church is to be placed un- 
der the pastoral charge of the Rev. Mr Prescot. 




THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 

Is an edifice of the Grecian Doric order, finely 
situated, fronting on Lafayette square — the hand- 
somest public ground in the city. The basement 
story is of granite ; the superstructure being 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 10 1 

brick, plastered to imitate stone. The building 
was commenced in November, 1834, and opened 
for public worship in July, of the following year. 
It was finished by subscription, at a cost of 
#55,000. In 1844, this building was considerably 
enlarged. In the court, in front, a neat obelisk has 
been erected, as a monument to the memory of 
the Rev. Sylvester Larned, first Presbyterian 
pastor of this city, who died 31st August, 1820, 
at the early age of 24, much and deservedly re- 
gretted. Rev. Mr Scott, is the present pastor. 

THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This is a plain and unpretending structure, on 
the corner of Calliope and Phytanee streets ; and 
like its near neighbour, St. Paul's, evidently erec- 
ted more for utility than for external display. It 
is a neat frame building, with only sufficient or- 
nament to give to it the appearance of a place of 
public worship. Rev. Mr. Stanton is the pastor. 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 

Is an edifice of brick, in the plain Gothic style 
of architecture. It was erected in 1817, on St. 
Charles street at the corner of Gravier, where 
formerly stood the store-houses of the Jesuits, and 
upon a part of the foundations of those buildings. 
Rev. Mr Clapp, is the pastor. 



102 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

At the corner of Poydras and Carondolet streets, 
is of the Grecian Doric order, the details of 
which are copied from the temple of Theseus, at 
Athens. The height of the steeple is 170 feet 
from the side walk. This edifice was erected in 
the year 183f) — 7, by Messrs. Dakin, and Dakin, 
architects, at an expense of $50,000. Rev. Mr 
Nicholson officiathig as pastor. 



THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 

Is under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Hinton, 



PT7BLIC BUILDINGS. 103 

WESLEYAN CHAPEL. 

This is a plain frame building, on St. Paul 
near Poydras street, and is devoted to the colored 
portion of the community. 

THE OLD URSULINE CONVENT, 

Situated in Conde street, was completed By the 
French government, in 1733 ; and is therefore, 
probably, the most ancient edifice in Louisiana. 
The architecture is plain, being Tuscan compo- 
site, and the smallness of the windows, and the pe- 
culiar form of the roof and chimnies, together 
with the general venerable and time worn aspect 
of the building, render it, independent of its histo- 
ry, an object of interest to both citizens and 
strangers. 

It was occupied by the Ursuline nuns for 
nearly a century ; and only abandoned by them, 
when, on account of the great rise in the value of 
real estate around it, they disposed of a part of 
their property, and removed, in 1824, to the new 
convent, two miles below the city. It was then 
used by the state legislature, as a place for their 
sessions, until their present accommodations were 
prepared for their reception, in 1834. Since that 
period it has been inhabited by the Right Rev. 
Bishop Blanc, and several other of the higher 
clergy of the diocess. From its great solidity of 
construction, there is no reason to doubt but thai 



104 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

It may stand many years longer, as a monument 
of " the olden times." 

THE NEW CONVENT. 

This richly endowed establishment was founded 
in 1826, and the chapel was completed in 1829. 
The main building is about 100 feet long, of 
brick, two stories high, and has two wings, run- 
ning from the rear, at each end. It is principally 
occupied as a seminary for the education of young 
ladies. The average price for instruction and 
board is $200 per annum. The number of 
scholars at present is 120. On a line with this 
building is the nunnery, containing 40 sisters of 
the Ursuline order. Annexed to the latter edifice 
is the chapel, a remarkably neat and plain struc- 
ture. Immediately in front of the latter building 
is the residence of the priests. There are eighty 
acres of land, three of which are enclosed and 
i)eautifully embellished. The position is pleasant 
end healthy. It fronts upon the river, two miles 
below ihe city, and embraces a charming view of 
;he Mississippi. 

THE CARMELITE CONVENT, 

Is a frame building, which stands upon ground 
adjoining the church of St. Augustine, and is oc- 
cupied by the nuns of this order. They have an 
( xcellent school under their care, divided into two 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



105 



apartments — one of which is appropriated to white 
and the other to free colored children, many of the 
latter class, have wealthy parents, and pay a hio-h 
price for their education. 




THE CYPRESS GROVE CEMETERY. 

This resting place for the dead is about four 
miles from the centre of the city upon the right of 
the upper Shell Road, that leads to lake Pontchar- 
train, and occupies a ridge, which is supposed once 
to have been the embankment of the Mississippi. 

The plat of ground devoted to the cemetery, 
measures 244 by 2700 feet. The spot was pur- 
chased and improved at an expense of $35,000, 
by the Firemen's Charitable Association. The 
revenue that arises from interments is exclusively 
devoted to benevolent purposes — all the business 
of the association being conducted by its members 
without any compensation. The front wall and 
lodges are built in pure Egyptian style, and cost 
5* 



106 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

88,000. The grounds are divided into avenues, 
and arranged and embellished with an effect ap- 
propriate to the solemn associations of the place. 
The simple and striking motto over the entrance 
is selected from Pierpont : — 

" Here to thy bosom, mother earth, 
Take back in peace, what thou hast given ; 

And, all that is of heavenly birth, 
O God, in peace recall to heaven." 

Some of the tombs are very richly wrought — 
and, one in particular, erected by a fire company, 
a memento to a brother who was killed in the per- 
formance of his duty, is a specimen of superior 
skill and workmanship. The nature of the soil 
admits graves to be sunk six feet without approach- 
ing water. They are laid with brick and securely 
cemented. The tombs above ground (here called 
ovens, which they somewhat resemble) are faced 
with marble, built in the best manner. There are 
four hundred of them, which cost an average of 
twenty-five dollars each. These are sold at fifty 
dollars, and the surplus goes into the funds of the 
society, for charitable purposes. 

A central avenue, twenty-eight feet in width, 
called Live Oak Avenue, traverses the whole 
length of the ground. Cedar and Magnolia ave- 
nues, on either side of this, are each twenty feet 
wide. Next the outer walls, are those named 
Cypress and Willow, of eighteen feet each. At a 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 107 

distance of every two hundred feet, are transverse 
avenues. The spaces between these are reserved 
for the erection of tombs, and may be purchased 
at a stipulated price, according to the location. 
These privileges are sold in fee for ever, and the 
title is held sacred in the eye of the law. 

CATHOLIC CEMETERIES. 

Of these there are two. The larger ranges 
between Robertson and Claiborne, and extends 
from St. Louis to Canal streets, occupying four 
full squares. The square on St. Louis street is 
principally appropriated to natives of France and 
their descendants. There is a great deal of refin- 
ed sentiment and delicate fancy in some of their 
memorials of the departed. Tombs are often 
embellished with fresh flowers, that look as if they 
received daily attentions. This is a custom not 
peculiar to the French, but seems to be the natural 
language of that refined affection, which cherishes 
the memory and the virtues of the dead, among 
the dearest and most sacred treasures of the heart. 
The smaller of these grounds lies on Basin and 
St. Louis streets. It presents, like the other, many 
tasteful monuments, that show us where repose 
the honored and the wealthy of the land. These 
necessarily attract the notice of strangers— but 
there is one among them less conspicuous than 
the rest, the eloquence of whose simple and touch- 



108 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

ing memorial has rarely been surpassed. It is in 
the side wall, near the north-west corner of the 
cemetery, surrounded by many more of a similar 
construction. There is no display — only a simple 
record, that tells it is occupied by a female fifteen 
years of age. Beneath this is quite a plain stone, 
with the inscription ^' Ma pauvre file f' What 
an affecting history in those three brief words ! 
It was undoubtedly placed there by an affectionate 
mother, deploring the untimely death of a beloved 
daughter. It contains more pathos, and speaks to 
the heart with more effect, than volumes of labor- 
ed eulogy, or frantic grief. The proud mausole- 
um, and the turgid epitaph, sink into insignificance 
beside this humble burst of maternal love — ^^ My 
poor child f^' 

Illustrative of the false pride with which the 
Creole population still, unfortunately, regard the 
practice of duelling, nearly opposite is the follow- 
ing inscription: — 

" Victime de V hnnneur. 
Aet. 24." 

THE PROTESTANT CEMETERY. 

This burial place fronts on St. Paul street, and 
occupies about two city squares. The inscriptions 
do not date back beyond 1810. It is a spot, how- 
ever, where the northern and eastern traveller 
will often recognize familiar names of those who 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 109 

have found graves far from endeared friends and 
connexions. There is little of the display here 
that is observed in other grounds. Tomhs that, 
apparently, were commenced with a resolution to 
show honor to the departed, have been left without 
a stone to record the name of the neglected tenant. 
In one of the side walls, is a tomb stone of plain 
white marble, with only the words, " My husband!'* 
engraven upon it. In this vault were deposited the 
remains of a distinguished tragedian, who fell a 
victim to the yellow fever, some years since, in 
this city. It is a delicate souvenir, tbat bespeaks 
the true feeling and atrection of a desolate widow. 
On another is the emphatic inscription, " Poor 
Caroline r 



Is situated within sight of the Cypress Grove 
Cemetery, and having been but recently commen- 
ced, has not yet become an object of much attraction. 

There is quite a spacious Catholic burying 
ground near Bayou road, more tlian a mile back 
of the city, that seems to have been considerably 
used, but has few monuments of any interest. 

Besides these, there is a general burying ground 
at LaHiyette. The .Tews have a place of inter- 
ment, also, in that city. 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



There is probably no city in the United States 
that has so many benevolent institutions as New 
Orleans, in proportion to its population. Certainly 
it has not an equal in those voluntary contributions, 
which are sometimes required to answer the im- 
mediate calls of distress. Here are assembled a 
mixed multitude, composed of almost every nation 
and tongue, from the frozen to the torrid zone, 
and, whether it be the sympathy of strangers, or 
the influence of the sunny south, their purses open 
and their hearts respond, like those of brothers, to 
the demands of charity. To illustrate these asser- 
tions and to carry out the plan of this work, a 
description of the most prominent of these estab- 
lishments is annexed. 

THE FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM 

Stands at the intersection of Camp and Phytanee 
streets, on an angular lot, widening to the rear on 
Erato street. It has a northerly front on the 
junction of the two first named streets, and occu- 
pies all the grounds that are contained in this 
irregular space — the rear, however, being reserved 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 



Ill 




as a site for a church, to be erected at some future 
period. The land was a liberal donation front) 
Madame Foucher, and her brother, Francis Soulet. 
Previous to the erection of this building, the estab- 
lishment was conducted in rented tenements, under 
the direction of the Sisters of Charity ; in whose 
hands it still continues to present a praiseworthy 
example of neatness and parental care. It com- 
menced in 1836 with six children; jj^d, in 1839, 
with great exertions, it accommodated ninety. 

The history of this charity seems to trespass on 
the region of romance. In its struggle, it received 
an important impulse from the suggestions of a 
benevolent lady, Mrs. Pogue. In conversation 
with a female friend of similar feelings, she re- 
marked, " if a fair could be organized for its 
benefit, and the opulent induced to patronize it. 



112 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

money might be raised to erect the necessary 
buildings." That friend told the Bishop ; who, 
taking up the hint, announced it from the pulpit. 
This led to the call of a meeting — where, instead 
of a small assemblage, the rooms were crowded 
with the wealth and beauty of the city. It result- 
ed in the collection of over sixteen thousand dollars! 
Thus, to almost a chance expression from the 
kind heart of woman, New Orleans is mainly in- 
debted for the prosperity of one of the noblest of 
her humane institutions. 

From this moment, the Asylum assumed a firm 
standing. A suitable house was at once com- 
menced. The second municipality gave a thou- 
sand dollars, and the legislature at different 
periods, twelve thousand dollars. In 1840 the 
whole was completed, and the children, to the 
number of about one hundred, took possession. 
Since that time they have averaged one hundred 
and forty-five annually. They receive the rudi- 
ments of a good education. At a suitable age 
they are apprenticed to persons of character and 
responsibility ; and a vigilance is continued, that 
guaranties to them the kind treatment, which 
their isolated position seems to demand. 

The edifice, built by D. Hayden, cost over 
forty-two thousand dollars. Though conducted 
witli the utmost prudence, the institution is some 
twenty-five hundred dollars in debt. In a capital 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 113 

like this, where so many of the citizens have 
princely revenues, and with them a princely libe- 
rality, there is little doubt that arrangements will 
soon be made to relieve it of this embarrassment. 
It has now about one hundred and sixty children, 
of whom over thirty are in the nursery. 

THE MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

The Society for the Relief of Destitute Orphan 
Boys have their establishment in Lafayette. It 
went into operation in 1824, and was incorporated 
the year after. By a calculation of the first six- 
teen years, it appears that an average of thirty- 
five have annually participated in its benefits. 
Although its title would seem to imply, that 
orphans only are admitted, yet the board are au- 
thorized to receive any boy, whose destitute condi- 
tion requires their protection. 

THE POYDRAS FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

This is one of the oldest establisments of the 
kind in New Orleans. It was endowed by Julien 
Poydras, and possesses an immense revenue from 
valuable improved real estate. They occupy on 
Julia, from St. Charles to Carondelet streets, and 
extend back about two-thirds of an immense 
square. It has for several years had an average 
of one hundred and twenty children. The excel- 
lent system and regulations, in regard both to 



114 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

instruction and health, will not be disparaged by 
comparison with the best institutions in the world. 
Possessing so much property and such beautiful 
grounds, it is to be regretted that more spacious 
and comfortable buildings are not erected for the 
accommodation of the inmates. 

THE CATHOLIC MALE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

This institution is supported by an association, 
and by private donations. The establishment oc- 
cupies a large building fronting the river, and a 
few squares above the New Convent. About one 
hundred and seventy children receive the benefits 
of this charity. 

LES DAMES DE LA PROVIDENCE. 

This association was formed in 1839. It con- 
sists of about one hundred ladies, who each con- 
tribute a certain sum monthly as a charitable 
fund. Its object is to render aid to the sick, the 
poor and the infirm. The institution was put into 
operation by the benevolent French ladies of New 
Orleans ; and, were its resources equal to the kind 
feelings of its members, it would be rendered a 
means of alleviating much distress among the 
sick and destitute. 

THE SAMARITAN CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION. 

This institution was founded during the epidemic 
of 1837, for the purpose of alleviating the wants 



CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 115 

of the poor and the sick. They established an 
office at that period, where some of the members, 
day and night, were always in readiness to attend 
the bed-side of disease, and to administer aid to 
the indigent. The late mayor, and many of the 
most wealthy citizens are members ; and, in time 
of need, the association is liberally endowed by 
the spontaneous donations of the generous public. 

THE firemen's CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION 

Was incorporated in 1835, and managed by a 
board of directors chosen from each company, 
subject to certain restrictions. The officers, (a 
president, vice president, secretary and treasurer,) 
are elected by the board from members of the 
association, on the first Monday of January, of each 
year. The object of this society is the relief of 
its members, who are incapacitated from attending 
to business from sickness or misfortunes not arising 
from improper causes. It makes provision also 
for the benefit of their families — particularly 
widows and orphans. This is a very laudable 
association, and every way deserving of the ex- 
cellent fire department from which it originated. 



This benevolent institution was established in 
1837 ; and its object is the relief of the indigent 
and sick. Its resources depend entirely upon pub- 



116 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 

lie contributions — and appeals for aid have always 
been responded to with alacrity. During the pre- 
valence of the epidemic of 1841, this society col- 
lected and distributed over five thousand dollars 
among the sufferers on that dreadful occasion. It 
is a noble charity that waits not for calls upon its 
benevolence ; but its members seek for worthy 
objects in the hidden recesses of misery, and soothe 
and administer to their wants, with a brotherly 
solicitude that does honor to the name they have 
assumed. 

THE HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, 

Although but a short time in existence, has ac- 
complished much good ; diffusing charity, not in 
mere accordance with sectional prejudices, but in 
that catholic spirit of genuine benevolence, which 
freely dispenses its benefits alike upon Jew and 
Christian, and recognizes but one brotherhood in 
the family of man. 

THE MILNE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 

This institution was endowed in 1839, by Alex- 
ander Milne, a liberal Scotch gentleman, from 
whom it takes its name. It was established for 
the education and protection of helpless orphan 
children of both sexes. 



HOSPITALS. 



No city in the United States is so well provided 
with establishments of this kind as New Orleans. 
Here, the only passport required for admission to 
the best attendance, is sickness", or an injury. 
No cold formalities are thrown in the way of the 
suffering patient. Indeed, it has become a subject 
of complaint, that access is so easy, and the posi- 
tion so agreeable, that the improvident and the in- 
dolent take undue advantage of its benefits. 




THE CHARITY HOSPITAL. 



The first hospital for indigent persons erected 
in the city of New Orleans, appears to have been 



118 HOSPITALS. 

built on the site formed by the west side of Ram- 
part street, between Toulouse and St. Peter streets. 
It was blown down in 1779 ; and, being of wood, 
was entirely destroyed. 

In 1784, Dr. N. Y. Roxas commenced one of 
brick on the same position, which he completed at 
an expense of 8114,000 in 1786, and called it the 
New Charity Hospital of St. Charles. He en- 
dowed it with a perpetual revenue of S1500 per 
annum, by appropriating the rents of the stores at 
the corner of St. Peter and Levee streets. It 
continued under the patronage and direction of 
the family, until March 1811, when it was relin- 
quished to the city by authority of the legislature, 
the edifice having been previously consumed by 
fire. It was now subjected to a council of admin- 
istration, appointed by the governor and city 
council — (the first six, the latter three.) Since 
1813 the council has been appointed by the go- 
vernor and senate. It consists of eight members, 
and the governor. Its support has been derived 
from several sources. A most liberal legacy was 
left it by that public benefactor Julien Poydras, 
of real estate, valued at #35,000. Several smaller 
sums have been received from other benevolent 
individuals. It has also received aid from the 
state, directly and indirectly. Pennsylvania 
made a liberal grant of 810,000, in 18 — . 

In 1812, the council of administration sold to 



HOSPITALS. 119 

the state the square now occupied by the state 
house, with the buildings, for $125,000, and pur- 
chased the present site, and built their large and 
commodious structure at the foot of Common 
street, at an expense of 8150,000, containing suffi- 
cient room to accommodate four or five hundred 
patients. This is the building particularly refer- 
red to in the heading of this article. Besides 
being under the charge of the ablest of the medical 
faculty, the institution has the assistance of the 
Sisters of Charity, as nurses to the sick, who 
cannot be excelled in kindness and careful atten- 
tion. 

The edifice itself is very imposing, from its 
immense size. It is substantially built with brick. 
Suitable supplementary out-buildings for lunatics, 
and lying-in apartments, are on the same grounds; 
and the whole is encompassed by a permanent 
brick wall. 

To show the great usefulness of this establish- 
ment, it is only necessary to state that, during 
1844, there were five thousand eight hundred and 
forty-six patients admitted, seven hundred and 
thirteen of whom died, and five thousand and fifty- 
nine were dismissed. Of this number, only one 
thousand three hundred and sixteen were natives 
of the United States, and four thousand five hun- 
dred and thirty foreigners. This year the yellow 
fever was not epidemic. 



120 HOSPITALS. 

The following table, taken from the New Orleans 
Medical Journal, shows the number of cases of yel- 
low fever admitted into this hospital from Jan. 1, 
1822, to Jan. 1, 1844, with the dates of the first 
and last cases each year, with the discharges and 
deaths, constituting a term of twenty-two years. 



Year. 


First Case. 


Last Case. 


Adm'd 


Dis'g'd 


Died. 


1822 


Sept. 3. 


Dec. 31. 


349 


98 


239 


1823 


Sept. 11. 




1 




1 


1824 


Aug. 4. 


Nov. 13. 


167 


59 


108 


1825 


June 23. 


Dec. 19. 


94 


40 


59 


1826 


May 18. 


Nov. 18. 


26 


19 


5 


1827 


July 17. 


Dec. 5. 


372 


263 


109 


1828 


June 19. 


Dec. 10. 


290 


160 


130 


1829 


May 23. 


Nov. 29. 


435 


220 


215 


1830 


July 24. 


Nov. 29. 


256 


139 


117 


1831 


June 9. 


Oct. 7. 


3 


1 


2 


1832 


Aug. 15. 


Oct. 25. 


26 


8 


18 


1833 


July 17. 


Nov. 17. 


422 


212 


210 


1834 


Aug. 28. 


Nov. 22. 


150 


55 


95 


1835 


Aug. 24. 


Nov. 27. 


505 


221 


284 


1836 


Aug. 24. 


Oct. 25. 


6 


1 


5 


1837 


July 13. 


Nov. 28. 


998 


556 


442 


1838 


Aug. 25. 


Nov. 1. 


22 


5 


17 


1839 


July 23. 


Nov. 17. 


1086 


634 


452 


1840 


July 9. 




3 




3 


1841 


Aug. 2. 


Dec. 8. 


1113 


520 


594 


1842 


Aug. 4. 


Nov. 26. 


410 


214 


211 


1843 


July 10. 


Dec. 31. 


1053 


609 


487 


To 


tal Number, 




7787 


4034 


3803 


A 


discrepancy 


of ' : ' : ' : 


50 




4034 


7837 


7837 



HOSPITALS, 121 

" This discrepancy between the number of ad- 
mittances, discharges, and deaths," say the editors, 
" arises from the fact that a good many cases of 
yellow fever occur, after the patients are admitted 
into the hospital for other diseases — and some 
remain to be treated for other diseases, long after 
having been cured of yellow fever ; and, it may 
be, that some cases are not noted upon the hospital 
books at all." The proportion of deaths is ac- 
counted for by the exposed state of the patient 
before admission. In private practice they do not 
average one death to ten. 

The absence of quarandne regulations in New 
Orleans, is often remarked by strangers. Acts 
of legislation have been passed at different times, 
establishing laws for the protection of the city, 
which proved of but little service, owing, it is ge- 
nerally admitted, to their not being carried out as 
it is now known they should have been to test their 
efficacy, consequently they soon fell into disuse. 

Much able, and it would seem unanswerable 
argument has been employed, to prove that this 
scourge of tropical climates is not contagious ; yet. 
Dr. Carpenter, an eminent and learned member of 
the medical profession of this city, with great re- 
search, has tracked it through all its secret chan- 
nels of communication, by which at different pe- 
riods it has been introduced. 

The recent able essay of Dr. Hort, read before 
6 



122 HOSPITALS. 

the Physico-Medical Society of this city, and the 
proceedings and resolutions of that body, had in 
reference to it, with equal conclusiveness show it 
to be endemic, or of local origin, and not an im- 
ported or contagious disease. 

When such eminent " doctors disagree" what 
shall the unlearned and uninitiated do ? — we are 
surely in a dilemma, and hardly know on which 
horn to hang our own humble judgment — but it 
would really appear that with a sanitary system, 
commending itself to the more cautious views of 
the Atlantic cities, an advantage would be gained, 
that would far more than balance any diminished 
trade of our neighbors in the Gulf. Are there not 
also, many hundreds of active, intelligent, business 
making citizens, who now fly to the North on the 
first approach of the sickly season, who, with such 
guards faithfully maintained about them, would 
remain through the summer ? and are there not 
thousands more in various parts of the country, 
who, inspired with confidence by the existence and 
maintenance of a system of measures which they 
deem essential to the preservation of the health 
and lives of the citizens, would throng to our 
metropolis as the most inviting field of enterprize, 
and thus multiply our numbers and enlarge our 
business far more rapidly than it can, or will be 
done under the present system ? 

If in making these suggestions it should be sup- 



HOSPITALS. 123 

posed that we have " defined our position," we 
shall shelter ourselves under " the generally re- 
ceived opinion" "the prevailing fears of the com- 
munity" — and the prudential measures of other 
cities. 




MAISON DE SANTE. 

This noble edifice, emphatically the house of 
the stranger, was built in 1839, and opened in Au- 
gust of the same year. The full and complete 
success of the enterprise is written in the grateful 
memories of the thousands of patients who have 
resorted to it in the hour of sickness and danger. 
The prices required secure to every sick person 
more than the attention and comforts of the house 
of his childhood. Not a doubt need to cross his 
mind but that all which science, and the most de- 
voted care can effect, will be done for him ; he 



124 HOSPITALS. 

only goes there to get well, if it be possible in the 
nature of his case. The names of the attending 
physicians, Doctors Stone, Kennedy and Carpenter, 
are a sufficient guaranty for the respectability of 
this establishment. 

CIRCUS STREET INFIRMARY. 

This institution, situated between Poydras and 
Perdido streets, was established by Doctors Camp^ 
bell and Mackie, in July, 1841. It is neatly fur- 
nished, and offers all the comforts and advantages 
of a private house to the invalid. No contageous 
diseases are admitted, and kind and skilful nurses 
are furnished. 

THE FRANKLIN INFIRMARY, 

Is situated in the Fauxbourg Franklin, in 
Champs Elysees street, fronting the Pontchartrain 
rail-road, and about two miles from the city. It 
is a private hospital, founded by Dr. C. A. Luzem- 
burg. The building, although not large, is ac- 
commodated with several out houses, and the 
grounds are spacious and pleasant. 



125 



;k::« 




THE UNITED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL, 

Situated at Macdonough, opposite New Orleans, 
occupies a square, measuring three hundred and 
fifty feet each way, which is enclosed by a good 
substantial fence, intended, eventually, to give 
place to an iron railing. The edifice measures, 
in front, one hundred and sixty feet, by seventy 
eight deep — from the rear of which two adjuncts 
extend fifty feet further back, leaving sufficient 
room between them for a spacious court, immedi- 
ately behind the centre of the main building. 

The whole is laid off into three stories. It is 
fifty feet from the ground to the eaves, and one 
hundred and thirty-five to the top of the flag-staff, 
which surmounts the belvidere. It is built in the 
Gothic style ; and was designed by Mondele and 
Reynolds, who were the original contractors. It 
was commenced in 1834, but for want of the ne- 



126 HOSPITALS. 

cessary appropriations by the government, the 
work was suspended, and has gone so much to ruin, 
that it will require $20,000 to repair the damage. 
James H. Caldwell, Esq., has contracted for the 
completion of this work. The building, when 
finished and furnished for receiving patients, will 
cost $130,000. It will accommodate two hundred 
and sixty nine persons. The grounds, tastefully 
laid out, are to be embellished with shrubbery. 
As seen from the Mississippi, or from a distance, 
this structure presents a very majestic appearance. 
It stands in a healthy position, elevated and dry ; 
and from its great height, commands a complete 
view of the river, city, surrounding country, and 
a whole forest of masts— affording to poor Jack at 
at once a delightful and a busy prospect, that must 
have a great tendency to cheer the hours of his 
convalescence. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




THE BIUNICIPAL HALL. 

This edifice, when completed, will be one of 
the noblest public buildings of the Second Muni- 
cipality. It is to occupy the corner of Hevia and 
St. Charles streets, facing the westerly side of 
Lafayette Square, a site selected particularly on 
account of its conspicuous and airy position. Its 
grand entrance ranges along the latter thorough- 
fare 90 feet, running back upon the former 208, 



128 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

and presenting an altitude of 54 feet to the eaves, 
displaying two bold stories above a basement of 11 
feet ceiling. This lower apartment is intended for 
the accommodation of the military, and the police 
and watch departments. It is intersected from 
end to end by a corridor twelve, and across, in the 
centre, by one of fourteen feet wide, the latter 
giving room for a double flight of stairs, which 
ascend to the upper story. The same division of 
passage-ways is observed on each floor. 

The grand entrance from St. Charles street, is 
by a flight of eighteen blue Quincy-granite steps, 
of which material the principal front is constructed. 
At the top of these, at an elevation of fourteen 
feet, is a platform extending along the whole front, 
twenty-five feet deep, sustaining, by a range of 
six pillars in front, and four in the rear, a massy 
pediment, all of which is of Ionic Grecian con. 
struction, and in good keeping with the main 
fabric. On entering the corridor through this 
portico, on the right hand, is an apartment seventy- 
five by thirty-five feet, and, and like all the others 
on this floor, eighteen feet in the ceiling, appro- 
priated to the library of the School Lyceum. In 
the rear of this, on the same side, are four others 
for public offices and courts, as are also those on 
the opposite direction. 

Ascending to the third story, in front is the great 
hall, sixty-one by eighty -four feet, and twenty- 



PUBLIC BUILDIN&S. 129 

nine in the ceiling, set apart for the School Ly- 
ceum. Immediately in front of this, is a central 
platform, advancing between two side rooms, over 
which are two others, similar, all four of which 
are intended for the accommodation of the appa-^ 
ratus, necessary for this new institution. 

The main room is furnished with galleries on 
three sides, arranged in the best manner for the 
convenience of scholars and spectators. The 
rooms in the rear, like those in the story below, 
are devoted to public offices. 

The walls of this building are to be based upon 
granite, and the residue of white marble, after the 
Grecian Ionic order. The whole will cost about 
#120,000. 

THE CITY PRISONS. 

These edifices are built of brick, and plastered 
to imitate granite, they are three stories in height, 
occupying one hundred and twenty three feet on 
Orleans and St. Ann streets, by one hundred and 
thirty-eight feet nine inches between them. They 
are two in number, and divided by a passage way 
that is closed to the public. The principal build- 
ing has its main entrance from Orleans street, 
through a circular vestibule, closed by strong iron 
doors. The lower story contains the offices and 
apartments of the jailor. The second story is di- 
vided into large halls for such prisoners as require 
6* 



130 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

to be less strictly guarded. The plan of the third 
story is similar. The whole is surmounted by a 
belvidere, with an alarm bell. The cost is esti- 
mated at 8200,000. 

SECOND MUNICIPALITY WORK-HOUSE. 

This institution was formed in obedience to legis- 
lative enactment, under date of the 5th of March, 
1841. The buildings were completed and occu- 
pied the same year. The site is a portion detached 
from the northern extremity of the Protestant 
Episcopal Burying Ground, and the centre of the 
front is directly facing St. Mary street. The plot 
is two hundred and ninety feet, front and rear, 
and two hundred and fifty-five deep — the whole 
being enclosed by a wall twenty-one feet high, 
twenty-six inches thick at the base, and eighteen 
at the top, externally supported throughout by 
abutments at a distance of every fourteen feet. 

The entrance is by a strong and well secured 
gate, into a public passage flanked ' by offices, 
over which are rooms assigned to the use of the 
keepers, for the accommodation of the guard, and 
such materiel as good order, and the safety of the 
establishment require. This structure is partially 
separated from the prison by well constructed 
gates and partition walls. Within, on each side, 
engrossing the residue of the immediate front of 
the grounds, are two buildings. The one on the 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 131 

right is for white females, and that on the left for 
blacks of both sexes. These tenements are divided 
from the other parts of the prison by high fences 
of frame work. Going thence into the princi- 
pal yard, the building for the male whites is seen 
on the extreme right. This is of one story, mea- 
suring eighty by thirty feet, and is the largest one 
on the premises. Arranged along near the rear 
wall, extending to the left, are the work shops. 

The average number of white prisoners is 
eighty, not one-seventh of whom are females : 
and one hundred blacks, a third of these also be- 
ing females. The prison discipline seems to be 
of a first rate order ; and it is seldom necessary to 
punish for offences against the rules. Religious 
service is performed on Sundays, and a physician 
is in attendance every day. It is a singular factj 
that only five persons have died there since it was 
opened, notwithstanding their former irregular 
habits. The prisoners are kept at constant labor ; 
and their food, though not luxurious, is of a whole- 
some nature, which may, when their abstinence 
from intemperate habits is taken into considera- 
tion, account for the excellent state of their health. 
It would not be hazarding much to say that many 
here were never before accustomed to so many of 
the comforts of life — "in all, save these bonds;' 
for they lodge upon clean and comfortable 
bedding, surrounded by moscheto bars ; and. 



132 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

once a, week, at least, can enjoy the luxury of a 
bath. 

This is the receptacle of that class of society, 
Doth white and black, who are denominated va- 
grants. They embrace two sorts of individuals — 
those who have no visible means of obtaining a 
livelihood, and those who live by committing un- 
lawful depredations upon others. Besides these, 
colored seamen, while in port, not being suffered 
by the laws to go at large, are accommodated, for 
the time being, with an apartment in the Work- 
house. Slaves are placed here by their masters, 
for punishment, for safe keeping, and for refusing 
to perform labor, as well as for the commission of 
crimes. These last are sent out in gangs, under 
keepers, to clean the streets, and to perform cer- 
tain other menial services within the control of 
the municipal authorities. 

Nothing could render this establishment more 
complete, except a classification of its inmates ; 
so that the hardened offenders should be prevented 
from drawing the young, the thoughtless, and the 
incipient transgressor, into the vortex of their own 
viciousness. To the philanthropist, this must be 
a consideration of the utmost importance. The 
saying, that " evil communications corrupt good 
manners," is illustrated even in this place — and 
liere, many who seem upon the very verge of 
destruction, might be saved from ultimate and 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 133 

Utter ruin, by the judicious care and protection of 
the humane and reflecting magistrate. 

THIRD MUNICIPALITY WORK-HOUSE. 

This new establishment stands on Moreau street, 
running from Louisa to Piety streets, and taking 
within its limits the building formerly used as the 
Washington market, which has been altered to 
suit its present purpose. The buildings were pre- 
pared under the superintendence of Charles K. 
Wise, and are well arranged. The prisoners 
average about one hundred — ^thirty of whom are 
females. The regulations are excellent. 

THE COURT-HOUSE. 

This edifice stands on Chartres street, and to the 
right of the Cathedral, as it is seen from the Place 
d'Armes, opposite to which it is situated. The 
lower story is of the Tuscan order, with a wide 
portico along the front of the edifice, supported by 
ten antes, between semi-circular arches. The 
four in the middle are strengthened in front by 
Tuscan columns, and those at the angles by two 
clustered pilastres. The ascent to the second 
story is through the principal entrance, which is 
composed of a semi-circular arched door, with 
antes at the sides, and Doric entablature. It 
opens into a spacious lobby, through which, by a 
stone stair-way, of a single flight below, and a 



134 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



double one above, the second floor is reached. 
The front of the upper story is of the Ionic order, 
but generally similar to the lower. The entabla- 
ture is surmounted by a denticulated cornice, and 
the pediment is relieved by an oblong shield. 







THE CITY HALL. 

This building stands on the upper side of the 
Cathedral, on a line with the Court House descri- 
bed above, both of which were erected the latter 
part of the preceding century, through the liberal- 
ity of Don Andre Almonester. This edifice in all 
general respects, much resembles the Court- 
House on the right of the Cathedral, except that 
the main entrance, under the portico, is of the 
Tuscan order; and that the stair within is a 
winding one, leading to the upper story by three 
flights ; also, that the pediment of the front bears 
the American eagle, with cannon and piles of balls. 



MARKETS. 



The markets are a prominent feature in a de- 
scription of New Orleans. They are numerous, 
and dispersed, to suit the convenience of the citi- 
zens. The prices of many articles they offer are 
very fluctuating. Not dearer, however, on an 
average, than in New York. Stall-fatted meats 
are not so usual here as at the North, preference 
being given to the grass-fed. The mutton has no 
equal in America. Poultry and fish are fine ; 
and vegetables, except potatoes, are abundant, and 
speak well for the soil that produced them. Fruit, 
from the West Indies and our own West, is not 
only plenty, but of the best kind. The regulations 
are excellent, and are strictly enforced by officers 
appointed for that purpose. 

The greatest market day is Sunday, during the 
morning. At break of day the gathering com- 
mences — youth and age, beauty and the not-so- 
beautiful — all colors, nations and tongues are 
commingled in one heterogeneous mass of delight- 
ful confusion ; and, he must be a stranger indeed, 
who elbows his way through the dense crowd, 
without hearing? the welcome music of his own 



136 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

native language. The traveller, who leaves the 
city without visiting one of the popular markets 
on Sunday morning, has suffered a rare treat to 
escape him. Annexed is a brief descriptive ac- 
count of them. 

POYDEAS STREET MARKET, 

Is designed for the accommodation of the inhab- 
itants in the rear portion of the second municipal- 
ity. It covers a space of ground in Poydras street 
forty-two feet wide by four hundred and two long 
— extending from near Baronne to Circus street. 
It was built in 1837, and cost $40,000. 

THE VEGETABLE MARKET. 

The ground plan of this building is irregular; 
having been constructed at different periods. It 
approaches the Roman Doric order — is supported 
by brick columns plastered, and covered with a 
wooden frame roof tiled. It fronts on Old Levee, 
St. Philip and Ursuline streets, and the river. 
The design was by J. Pilie, who superintended 
the work. It was completed in 1830, at an ex- 
pense of 825,800. 

THE MEAT MARKET. 

Built in the rusticated Doric order, was com- 
pleted in 1813, after the designs of J. Piernas, city 
surveyor. The building is of brick plastered, 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 137 

with a wooden frame roof, covered with slate. It 
is situated on the Levee, and extends from St. 
Ann to Main streets; and, from its favorable 
location, and neat simplicity of architecture, is a 
striking object to those who approach the city by 
water. It cost about $30,000. 

ST. Mary's market. 

This building fronts on Tchoupitoulas street, 
and runs to New Levee, a distance of four hun- 
dred and eighty-six feet by a width of forty-two 
feet. It was completed in 1836, in the rusticated 
Doric order, at a cost of about $48,000. In the 
vicinity, on the first named street, is a vegetable 
market — a very neat edifice. 



Besides these, there is a very respectable mar- 
ket at the head of Elysian Fields street, near the 
Levee ; and another in Orleans, between Marais 
and Villere streets, near the City Prison. 

EXCHANGE HOTEL, (ST. CHARLES.) 

This magnificent establishment, which, for size 
and architectural beauty, stands unrivalled, was 
commenced in the summer of 1835, and finished 
in the May of 1838, by an incorporated company. 
The building was designed by, and erected under 



138 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




the superintendence of J. Gallier, architect, at an 
expense of $600,000, including the ground it stands 
on, which cost $100,000. It presents fronts on three 
streets. The principal one on St. Charles street, 
consists of a projecting portico of six Corinthian 
columns, which stand upon a granite basement 
fourteen feet high, with a pediment on the top, and 
four similar columns on each side of the portico, 
placed in a range with the front wall ; behind 
which is formed a recess fifteen feet wide and one 
hundred and thirty-nine long, and floored over 
with large granite slabs, which, supported on iron 
beams, serve as a ceiling to that portion of the 
basement story standing under the portico ; and on 
top affords a delightful promenade under the shade 
of the portico and side columns. The entrance 
to the bar-room is under this; and the outside 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 139 

steps, leading from the street to the portico, are 
placed on each side thereof, between it and the 
front range of the building. In one of the rear 
angles of the basement is a bathing establishment, 
consisting of fourteen rooms, elegantly fitted up, 
with every convenience for hot or cold bathing. 
On the opposite angle are placed the wine cellars, 
store-house, and other domestic apartments. All 
the remaining parts of the basement are divided 
into stores, which are rented out to various trades- 
people. The bar room is in the basement, near 
the centre of the edifice ; and is octangular in the 
plan, seventy feet in diameter, and twenty high ; 
having an interior circular range of Ionic columns, 
distributed so as to support the weight of the floors 
and partitions of the upper stories. The archi- 
tecture of this room is Ionic. That of the saloon, 
which is immediately over the bar room, is of the 
Corinthian order, and eighteen feet ceiling. A 
grand spiral stair-case commences upon the centre 
of the saloon floor, and is continued up to the 
dome. Around this stair-case, on each side of the 
upper stories, a gallery is formed, which gives 
access to six bedrooms within the octagon, on each 
of the six upper stories. As the bar room is six 
feet higher than the other parts of the basement, 
the entrance to the saloon from the portico is by a 
flight of marble steps, twelve in number, and 
thirty-five feet long. On the top of these steps is 



140 PUBLIC BUILDIN&S. 

placed a beautiful marble statue of Washington, 
presented to the company by John Hagan, Esq. 

The gentlemen's dining and sitting rooms occu- 
py the whole side of the building on Gravier 
street. The dining room, with a pantry at the 
end, is one hundred and twenty-nine feet long by 
fifty wide, and twenty-two feet high, tastefully 
finished in the Corinthian order, with two inside 
ranges of columns, so placed that there is abun- 
dant space for four ranges of dining tables, suffi- 
cient to accommodate five hundred persons. The 
ladies' dining room is placed over the bathing 
apartments, and is fifty-two by thirty-six feet. The 
kitchen, fifty-eight by twenty-nine feet, is placed 
in the rear wing of the building, on the same story 
with, and in the centre between the two dining 
rooms. The two angles of the principal front 
contain the ladies' drawing room, and the gentle- 
men's sitting room, the former forty by thirty-two 
feet, the latter thirty-eight feet square. There 
are nine private parlors on the second story, to 
some of which are attached adjoining bedrooms; 
and the same number on the upper stories. There 
are four stories of elegantly furnished and well 
lighted bedrooms, all around the four sides of the 
building, with central passages, or corridors, which 
communicate with the centre and with each other, 
having three stair-cases opening to the corridors, 
besides the grand stair-case in the octagon. There 
are, in the edifice, three hundred and fifty rooms. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 141 

A dome, of beautiful proportions, after a plan of 
Dakin, forty-six feet in diameter, surmounts the 
octagon building, elevated upon an order of fluted 
columns, which stand eleven feet from the dome, 
around the outside, and on the dome is elevated an 
elegant little Corinthian turret. There is a large 
circular room under the dome, on the floor of 
which the spiral stair-case terminates, and around 
the outside of which the circular colonade forms 
a beautiful gallery eleven feet wide, from whence 
can be seen the whole city, and all the windings 
of the river for several miles in each direction. 
The effect of the dome upon the sight of the visi- 
tor, as he approaches the city, is similar to that of 
St. Paul's, London. 

No better evidence can be adduced — nor more 
flattering encomiums presented to the architects, 
than the fact of the indescribable effect of the sub- 
lime and matchless proportions of this building upon 
all spectators — even the stoical Indian and the cold 
and strange backwoodsman, when they first view it, 
are struck with wonder and delight. The view of 
this structure by moonlight is a sight not easily 
described. The furnishing of this establishment 
cost $150,000. 

THE VERANDAH, 

So called from being covered on its front toward 
the streets, to a certain height, by a projecting roof 



142 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 




and balcony, is situated at the corner of St. 
Charles and Common streets, diagonally opposite 
the Exchange Hotel. The building was intended 
for a family hotel, by its enterprising projector and 
builder, the late R. O. Pritchard. 

The i];reat dining room, is, probably, one of the 
most highly finished apartments in America. 
The ceiling, especially, is a model ; being com- 
posed of three elliptic domes for chandeliers. 
This room measures eighty-five by thirty-two feet, 
and twenty-seven high. The chimney pieces of 
the ladies' parlors are fine specimens of sculpture, 
and the rooms are otherwise handsome. The 
sleeping apartments are not excelled. The whole 
was designed and constructed by Dakin & Dakin,» 
architects, in 1836-8, at a cost of ^300,000, in- 
cluding the ground. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS- 143 

ST. LOUIS HOTEL. 

This building, as a hotel, may be considered as 
one of the most respectable in New Orleans. It 
stands nearly in the centre of the French portion 
of the population ; and, in the combination of its 
brilliant and business-like appearance, is not an 
inappropriate representative of their national char- 
acter. In this establishment the utile etdulcia.re so 
happily blended, that the accomplished guest can 
find no cause^pf complaint. A more particular 
description of this superb edifice is omitted here, in 
consequence of its being given under the head of 
the City Exchange, to which the reader is respect- 
fully referred. 

Hewlett's hotel. 

This is a large and well-constructed building, 
on the corner of Camp and Common streets. It 
has been long known as a hotel, but, during the 
last year, has been opened, under new auspices, 
by the gentleman whose name has become associ- 
ated with that of the house. The position is airy, 
healthy and central, and the table is said to be 
unexcelled. 



The Planter's Hotel, in Canal street, and the 
National Hotel, in Tchoupitoulas street, are both 
good houses ; and the prices being less, they are 



144 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

sought after by those who wish to economise their 
expenses. There are several other respectable 
establishments, of which, like those last named, 
the limits of these pages will not permit a particu- 
lar description. 

THE GAS WORKS 

Occupy a square fronting on St. Mary street 
four hundred and sixty-seven feet, with a depth of 
two hundred and thirty-five feet on Gravier and 
Perdido streets ; which is enclosed by a substan- 
tial brick wall fourteen feet high. The site was 
selected by James H. Caldwell, Esq., to whom 
New Orleans is mainly indebted for this great 
undertaking, as well as for many others which 
stand as lasting eulogiums to his memory. In 
1834, the original works were put in operation. 
Mr. Caldwell, at this time, had the exclusive pri- 
vilege of lighting the city for thirty years. His 
were the fourth gas works in the Union, and the 
first west of the mountains. The first wrought- 
iron roof in this country, was erected over the retort 
house by Mr. C, and has served as a model for 
all since built. The largest cast iron tank ever 
constructed was also put up by him. It is fifty-one 
feet diameter and eighteen deep, and contains over 
two hundred thousand gallons of water. In 1835 
Mr. Caldwell disposed of this property to the Gas 
Light and Banking Company ; who, finding the 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 145 

buildings insufficient, constructed them anew. 
The present establishment was planned and erect- 
ed under the superintendence of David John Ro- 
gers, in whose care it still continues to prosper. 
The works, finished in 1837, cost $150,000. The 
whole present value is 8650,000. 

These consist of a retort house on Gravier street, 
one hundred and seventeen by eighty feet, and 
parallel to which is the purifying house, one hun- 
dred and seventeen by fifty-two feet. On the rear 
is the chimney, constructed to resemble Trajan's 
pillar, one hundred and seven feet high ; and pre- 
sents a chaste specimen of classical architecture. 
There are three fifty feet gasometers, arranged 
along in the centre of the premises, capable of 
containing thirty thousand cubic feet each, built 
after the most approved workmanship, and consid- 
ered to be superior to any others in this country. 
On Perdido street is a three story dwelling, thirty 
by seventy-five feet, for the workmen. The coal 
shed is one hundred and ninety by fifty-two feet. 
In addition to these are the blacksmith, carpenter, 
and other shops, necessary for advantageously 
conducting so extensive a business. The struc- 
tures are all fir?-proof, and every thing is kept in 
the neatest possible condition. 

In addition to the works already described, and 
immediately in front of them, embracing nearly 
another square, two more gasometers, of equal 
7 



146 



PUBLIC BUILDIKGS. 



dimensions, together with the accompanying build- 
ings, have been constructed during 1844 — 5. 
These will enable the company to transmit the 
gas through a distance of one hundred and fifty 
miles of pipe, sufficient for the accommodation of 
a half million of persons. 

The gas is extracted from Pittsburgh coal — 
after wliich the coke is sold for fuel, at about half 
the price that is asked for the original coal. 




THE WATER WORKS. 

In 1833, a company was incorporated under the 
:itle of the "Commercial Bank of New Orleans," 
the principal object of which was to supply the 
city with pure water from the Mississippi river. 
To effect this object, an artificial mound was con- 
structed on the square comprised within Richard, 
Market, John the Baptist and Religious streets, 
consistingof seventy thousand cubic yards of earth, 
taken from the batture (deposit) of the river. The 
work was completed during 1834 — 5. The 
reservoir is constructed on the top of this mound. 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 147 

It is two hundred and fifty feet square, built of 
brick, and divided into four compartments, mea- 
suring each one hundred and eighteen feet in the 
clear. The walls and bottoms forming the reser- 
voir, are built with brick, and plastered with hy- 
draulic cement. A pavilion of an octagonal form 
has been erected on the intersection of the partition 
walls, supported by eight pillars. It is about fifteen 
feet wide and ten high, and affords quite a com- 
manding and pleasant prospect. 

The reservoir is supplied with water from the 
Mississippi river, by plunge pumps, worked by a 
condensing engine, acting expansively on Bolton 
and Watt's plan. These pumps were adopted as 
the most efficacious, on account of the great quan- 
tity of matter held in suspension by the water. 
They are connected to a suction pipe sixteen 
inches in diameter, and about eight hundred feet 
long ; and to the main, descending into the reser- 
voir, sixteen inches in diameter and six hundred 
feet long. The cylinder is twenty-five inches in 
diameter and six feet stroke, and is calculated to 
raise three millions gallons of water in twenty-four 
hours. The engine and pump houses are built of 
brick, and are situated on the lot forming the 
corner of Tchapitoulas and Richard streets. 

The water is distributed through cast iron pipes, 
capable of sustaining a pressure of water of three 
hundred feet head. They vary from eighteen to 



148 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

six inches in diameter for the mains — but the 
greater part of them consist of the larger sizes, 
which have numerous ramifications of less dimen- 
sions. There are two mains from the reservoir ; 
one of eighteen, the other of twelve inches bore, 
which are gradually reduced in size as the dis- 
tance becomes greater from the source, or as cir- 
cumstances may require. In 1836, water was first 
pumped into the reservoir. It can be delivered in 
the upper part of the city twenty-one feet, and in 
the lower sections, twenty-seven feet above the 
level of the soil. 

The daily average consumption of water, during 
the year 1844, was one million gallons ; and, 
from the comparative great capacity of the reser- 
voir, sufficient time is allowed for the water to 
settle, in one of the four compartments, before it is 
drawn for the use of the city. 

Much good might be achieved by a more en- 
larged operation of these works. The water is 
capable of being made fit for all domestic purposes, 
thus obviating the necessity for cisterns, the birth- 
place of millions of moschetoes, and, possibly the 
source of much sickness. For the purposes of 
bathing it is almost indispensable ; and, for form- 
ing fountains, to cleanse the streets and to purify 
and cool the air, it may be rendered equally a 
convenience, a luxury, and an embellishment. 



PUBLIC BUILDIN&S. 149 

ARMORIES. 

A room has been fitted up in Camp street, for 
winch the substantial and well constructed walls 
of the old Camp street Theatre have been used — 
a building erected by James H. Caldwell, Esq., 
in 1822. This apartment, used as an armory for 
the Washington Battalion, is sixty by one hundred 
and twenty feet, and twenty^wo feet high, and is 
decidedly one of the largest in New Orleans. 

Another armory is located at the corner of 
Perdido and Baronne streets, in the upper part of 
the Carrolton Rail-Road depot. Both of these 
armories are the depositories of arms, all kept in 
the best order, and disposed in various tasteful 
forms. 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

There are in New Orleans, fifteen engine, three 
hose, and one hook and ladder — in all nineteen 
companies. The city inay justly boast of the 
energy and efficiency of this arm of safety. The 
members are exempt from military and jury 
duty ; and, after a certain term, are enrolled as 
honorary members, who are free from the per- 
formance of further service. The expenses of 
the department are defrayed by appropriations 
from the municipalities, and from fines imposed 
upon delinquent members. 



150 MANUFACTURES. 

The courage and bearing of these conapanies 
during a conflagration, are much to be admired. 
They proceed with that cool and determined spirit 
that shows a consciousness of their power in sub- 
duing the destructive element. An excellent and 
convenient supply of water, which is always at 
command, enables them promptly to extinguish 
the most dangerous fire. 



MANUFACTURES 

In New Orleans, have, until recently been 
but little known. There are now however, seve- 
ral actively employed and well patronized branches 
of the manufacturing business ; which, if not 
calculated to compete with those in other markets, 
answer a very good purpose for its own. 

THE IRON FOUNDRY 

Of Messrs. Leeds & Co. produces every variet)'' 
of machinery, that steamboats and manufactories 
require for extensive operations. It has been es- 
tablished many years, at the corner of Foucher 
and Delord streets, occupies nearly a whole square, 
and is on as extensive a scale as any in the coun- 
try. The business-like and prompt system prac- 



MANUFACTURES. 151 

ticed by the conductors, is known to all who 
require their aid upon the whole line of the Mis- 
sissippi and its tributaries. 

STEAM PLANING BULL, 

Upon Carondelet Walk, has been in successful 
operation over four years. Lumber is landed 
from Carondelet Canal, which passes in front of 
the building. 

STEAM SAW MILLS. 

Of these there are two; one located in the 
third municipality, the other five miles below the 
city, and both upon the banks of the river. The\ 
can furnish lumber of almost any description in 
abundance. 

ROPE WALKS, 

There are several of these, in different parts 
of the city, where cordage may be manufactured, 
to any extent, demanded by the business of the 
place. 

Besides these there are several Flour Mills, a 
Paper Mill, Sugar Refinery, Cotton Factories, &c., 
all in successful operation. 



152 



THE COTTON PRESSES. 



THE COTTON PRESSES. 

This is the place of all others, for these exten- 
sive buildings, which, generally, occupy a square, 
and sometimes more. They are numerous and 
extensive establishments. A brief description of 
two of the most prominent, will serve for the 
whole, as they very much resemble each other in 
their construction. 

THE LEVEE COTTON PRESS, 

Erected by a company under that name, was 
completed in 1832, at a cost of $500,000. No 
architectural effect was aimed at in the fagade, 
which is, however, neat and plain. This estab- 
lishment can press about 200,000 bales per annum. 




mimrnirTlmm, 



THE ORLEANS COTTON PRESS. 

This vast establishment fronts on the Mississippi, 
running back on Roffignac and New Levee streets. 
The ground occupied is six hundred and thirty- 
two by three hundred and eight feet, and is nearly 



BANKS. 153 

covered by the buildings. The whole was built 
according to designs made by Charles F. Zimpel, 
begun in 1833, and completed in 1835, at a cost, 
including the site, of $753,558. The front on the 
river, although having no pretensions to archi- 
tectural effect, is still, from its location and extent, 
quite impressive. This press can store twenty- 
five thousand bales of cotton ; and compresses, on 
an average, one hundred and fifty thousand bales 
per annum ; but its capacity is much greater. 



BANKS. 

LOUISIANA STATE BANK. 

This building was erected in 1822, at a cost, 
including the ground, of $55,000. The plan was 
from Latrobe, and Benjamin Fox the architect. 
It stands on the corner of Royal and Bienville 
streets, and presents rather a plain but neat 
external appearance. It is most substantially 
built ; the lower story is heavily arched, and the 
banking apartments are completely fire-proof. 
Capital, $2,000,000. 

THE mechanics' AND TRADERS' BANK, 

Is situated on Canal street, occupying only an or- 
dinary house, compared to some others, and requires 
no particular description. Capital $2;000j000. 



154 




THE CITY BANK 

Is a building of the Ionic order, situated in Camp, 
near Canal street, and designed by W. L. Atkin- 
son, architect. Its construction was commenced 
in 1837, and finished in 1838, under the superin- 
tendence of J. Gallier, at a cost of about $50,000. 
The banking room is admired for its elegant sim- 
plicity. Capital $2,000,000. 



THE GAS BANK. 



This building, in St. Charles street, between 
Canal and Common streets, is so closely squeezed 
in among others, that it has little opportunity to 



BANKS. 155 

show off the bea uty it possesses. It was erected in 
1839, under the superintendence of Sidel & Stew- 
art, at an expense of about $25,000, ground 
825,000, making $50,000, and is every way 
well calculated for a banking house. The origi- 
nal capital was 84,000,000, but it was reduced 
to 8180,000, and by request of the stockholders, 
the banking privileges have been withdrawn by an 
act of the Legislature of 1845. 

THE CANAL BANK 

Has its entrance in the centre of the front on 
Magazine street, of a substantial granite building 
which stands on that and the corner of Gravier 
street. That portion of the edifice is very taste- 
fully arranged after the designs of Dakin, the 
architect. It was erected in 1845. The residue 
of the structure is used for stores. Capital, 
84,000,000. 

THE BANK OF LOUISIANA. 

Is a fine Ionic building at the south-west corner 
of Royal and Conti streets, surrounded by a 
handsome court. The whole edifice is well ar- 
ranged, the banking room in particular, is ad- 
mired for its good architectual effect, being 60 
feet square, and of a proportionate height, with a 
fine gallery above. It was commenced by Bic- 
kle, Hamlet and Fox, builders, in 1826, and fin- 



156 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 




ished the following year, at a cost of ^80,000 
Capital 84,000,000. 



BANKS ARCADE 

Occupies the front of a square on Magazine 
wtreet, between Gravier and Natchez streets, hav- 
ing a main entrance, fiom each of those last named, 
to the Arcade, which divides the building through 
the whole length — being three stories high, and 
covered in with glass, to exclude rain and admit 
the lio;ht. In the lower and second stories, are 
offices of almost all descriptions — and the third is 
appropriated mostly to sleeping rooms. 

The bar-room, opening on Magazine street, is 
100 by 60 feet, and 35 in height. It is hand- 
somely embellished, has a gallery surrounding 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 



157 



the upper story, and is a popular place for public 
meetings. It will accomodate 5,000 people on 
such occasions. This building stands in the centre 
of business, and, consequently, is a place of 
great resort for merchants and others. Erected 
by Thomas Banks in 1833, Charles Zimple, 
architect. 



^S^-%%' •'.•... 



^^-M.'MjHimi]^ 




CITY EXCHANGE. 

This magnificent edifice, which is one of the 
greatest ornaments of the city, fronts on three 
streets — about 300 feet on St. Louis, and 120 
each on Royal and Chartres street — the buil- 
ding being intended by the projectors to combine 
the convenience of a city exchange, hotel, bank, 
large ball rooms, and private stores. 

The principal fagade, on St. Louis street, may 
be generally described as being composed of the 
Tuscan and Doric orders. The main entrance is 
formed by six columns of the composite Doric 



158 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

order. Through this portico, access is had to the 
vestibule of the Exchange, a handsome, though 
simple hall, 127 by 40 feet. This room is appro- 
priated to general business, and constantly open 
during waking hours. You pass through this into 
one of the most beautiful rotu das in America, 
which is devoted exclusively to business, and is 
open from noon to three o'clock P. M. This fine 
room is surrounded by arcades and galleries, al- 
ways open to the public, (Sundays excepted, )and 
its general appearance cannot fail to impress upon 
the mind a most favourable idea of its grandeur 
and beauty. The dome is most tastefully laid off 
in compartments, within which the magic pencils 
of Canova and Pinoli have portrayed allegorical 
scenes and the busts of eminent Americans, in 
rich fresco — a style of painting comparatively 
new in t' e United States. The floors of the 
gallery which engird the rotunda, and the winding 
stairs leading to them, are of iron. 

By a side entrance on St. Louis-street, access 
is obtained to the second story ; the front of which, 
on this street, is occupied by a suite of ball-rooms 
and their dependencies. The great ball room is 
magnificent in its size and decorations. The buil- 
ding also has a capacious entrance on Royal- 
street, as a hotel that can accommodate 200 
persons. At the corner of Chartres street are the 
public baths. In the spring of 1840 this building 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 159 

was nearly burnt down— but, in less than two 
years, it was completely restored to its original 
splendor. 




?^^ 



THE COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE. 

This edifice is now being erected upon the south 
west corner of St. Charles and Perdido streets, 
fronting one hundred and three feet upon the for- 
mer, and running one hundred upon the latter. 
The main part of the building is to be constructed 
of brick and stuccoed; the upper portion is purely 
Corinthian the lower entirely Tuscan. The prin- 
cipal entrance on St. Charles street, is by a portico 
supported by two Ionic pillars, and the same num. 
ber of pilastres, composed of granite. The vesti- 
bule is eleven feet deep, which admits visitors by 
three separate doors into the exchange saloon, the- 



160 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

most spacious apartment of the kind in the United 
States ; it being seventy by one hundred feet, and 
twenty seven to the ceiling, which is supported by 
twelve well arranged and substantial pillars. At 
the rear of this public room are two others, intend- 
ed for the accommodation of auctioneers^ leaving 
only sufficient space on the left for the necessary 
offices and access to the second floor. 

The structure shows three stories in front — on 
the second of which is the news room, expressly 
arranged for the occupation of the New Orleans 
Reading Room. This apartment is fifty-five by 
eighty-three feet, and thirty-seven to the ceiling; 
and is lighted by thirty-six windows. A portico, 
with a recess of eleven feet, occupies the immedi- 
ate front, supporting the pediment by two Corin- 
thian pillars, and an equal number of pilastres. 
Two rooms are set apart in connection with this 
establishment, one for the accommodation of cap- 
tains of vessels, and one for that of sugar-brokers. 
On each side of the news-room are ranges of offices, 
to which admission is obtained by corridors on the 
inner side. Immediately over these, the third floor 
is arranged in the same manner. The intention 
of the company, under whose auspices this ex- 
change is building, is, to furnish to the mercantile 
community a place solely for the transaction of 
business, similar to Lloyd's of London. There 
are to be no liquors sold on the premises. Mr. 



PUBLIC BinLDINGS. 



161 



Gallier is the architect, and builder, and the build- 
ing and land cost #90,000. 




THE merchants' EXCHANGE, 

Fronting on Royal street and Exchange Place, 
was erected by a joint stock company in 1835-6, 
from the designs and under the superintendence 
of Mr. Dakin, architect. Both fronts are of 
marble, in a plain and bold style. The cost of 
the erection was f 100,000. 



THE merchants' READING ROOM, 

Entrance from Royal street and Exchange 
Place. This reading room occupied a spacious 
apartment in the second story of the Merchants' 
Exchange, and is under the patronasre and control 



162 PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

of the company interested in that building. It is 
generally supplied with nnost of the newspapers 
of the country, and has received a patronage 
quite equal to the extent of its accommodations. 

THE NEW ORLEANS READING ROOMS 

Occupy the second story of a spacious building 
on the corner of Common and St. Charles streets, 
opposite the Exchange and Verandah hotels. 
This is an enterprise started upon the plan of 
Galignani's, in Paris, and Lloyd's, in London — 
professing to supply the earliest commercial and 
general information. The fixtures are arranged 
with a degree of neatness and convenience that is 
extremely gratifying to the stranger, who has a 
spare hour to devote to reading. Here he can pe- 
ruse the latest papers, not only from almost every 
section of the United States, but English, French, 
German, Mexican, Irish, Scotch, and Colonial, 
together with all the periodicals, to his heart's con- 
tent. The merchant can see the prices current 
from nearly every part of the world ; arrivals and 
departures of vessels and of travellers — sales of 
the great staples and merchandise and their prices, 
and many such matters of interest to the business 
man. 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 163 

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 

In each parish, have heretofore been placed 
under the management of a board of five adminis- 
trators, who reported annually to the secretary of 
state the condition of those under their direction. 
This system has been adhered to, till very recent- 
ly, in the first and third municipalities. In the 
second a change took place in 1841, which has 
proved to be so complete a revolution, is attended 
with such important results to this large portion of 
the city, and so extended its influence even to the 
neighboring parishes, that it is referred to with a 
degree of pleasure which can only be surpassed 
by our pride in its success. 

In accordance with an act of the legislature, 
approved the 14th of February, 1841, authorizing 
the municipalities of New Orleans to establish 
public schools, the authorities of the second muni- 
cipality set themselves at work with a will. They 
selected twelve of their fellow-citizens as a board 
of directors for public schools, together with a 
standing committee on public education, to whom 
were granted almost unlimited powers. 

Zealous of acquitting themselves with honor, 
they at once looked to the fountain head, to New 
England, where the best schools in the country 
existed, and secured the aid of Mr. J. A. Shaw, 
who was perfectly conversant with all the im- 



164 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

provements, and placed this efficient gentleman at 
the head of the department as superintendent. 
From a despairing beginning, in less than one 
year, the prospect seemed to be most cheering. 
Commencing with only thirteen children of each 
sex, it increased, in two years, to ten hundred and 
sixty-one in actual attendance — and nearly double 
that number enrolled. 

Thus far these schools occupied rooms under 
the Methodist church in Poydras street, and a new 
building, called the Washington school, on Maga- 
zine, at the corner of Basin street ; but since that, 
the undertaking has been continually extending, 
until it was found necessary to erect another 
structure, the Franklin school, on St. Charles 
street — all of which are now scarcely sufficient to 
answer the increasing demand for admission. 

That, which at first was tested as an experi- 
ment, has proved to be a successful enterprise, 
producing an example which promises to have a 
beneficial influence over the southern method of 
education. It found strong opposition and preju- 
dice to contend against, but these have subsided — 
and the children of the rich and the poor are 
seated side by side, sharing advantages and stri- 
ving intellectually — the only distinction recogni- 
zed among them — "teaching one, as well as 
informing the other, that adventitious wealth 
confers no superiority over the fortunate competi- 
tor, when enoraged in a contest of the mind." 



PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 165 

The third municipality school is under the 
charge of Mr. Geo. W. Harby. All the branches 
of a good education are taught here in the English, 
French and Spanish languages. Although this 
school is under excellent discipline, and has all 
the advantages of a classical and gentlemanly 
teacher, it still has labored under the old regime, 
and could have educated double the number that 
have attended it. That nothing stands still is as 
applicable to the intellectual as to the physical 
world. Already the spirit of improvement, that 
has done so much for the second municipality, is 
busy in the first and third — and though slowly, it is 
as sure, eventually, to push its way into them as 
water is to find its own level. Beside the public 
schools, there are many private seminaries of a 
high order, and conducted by teachers of ability, 
where the wealthy, who have objections to those 
above designated, may send their children for in- 
struction. 

The education of youth is of the utmost impor- 
tance to a country — especially to one like this, 
that should be governed by the intelligence of its 
citizens. The portals to learning should be 
thrown wide open, equally to all — for upon know- 
ledge is based the beautiful temple of liberty. 
Tear away this foundation and the fair edifice 
must fall. Cherish and support it, and freedom 



1G6 LYCEUM AND LIBRARY. 

will become as permanent as our rocks, as ever- 
lasting as our hills. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL LYCEUM AND SOCIETY LIBRARY. 

The intention of this undertaking, is to establish 
a library for the benefit of the juvenile class of 
the second municipality, by the voluntary sub- 
scriptions and contributions of the scholars at- 
tached to the public schools, and by private dona- 
tions. To advance this important object, the 
common council passed an ordinance organising 
the establishment, regulating and directing its pro- 
ceedings, and tendering liberal advantages to en- 
courage success in its operations. When $5000 
are subscribed they are pledged to furnish rooms 
to accommodate the library — and, as soon as it 
amounts to $15,000, to purchase ground and erect 
suitable buildings. It also provides that, at a cer- 
tain period, a chemical and philosophical appa- 
ratus shall be purchased, and lectures delivered 
once a week, during eight months of the year, by 
the most competent men in the country, on astron- 
omy, geology, chemistry, natural and moral philo- 
sophy navigation, book-keeping, engineering, 
civil architecture and design, and such other use- 
ful branches as may be determined by the direc- 
tors — who are the same as those of the public 
schools, with the mayor, recorder and aldermen 
as ex-ojicio members. The scholar paying twenty- 



'LYCEUM AND LIBRARY. |67 

five cents a month, or three dollars a year, for 
three years, is constituted a life member, and for 
ever after may have access to this excellent insti- 
tution. Such has been the success of this under- 
takmg that a building will soon be provided, and 
very httle time will transpire before it will realize 
all the advantages that its beginning promised. To 
^amuelJ Peters, Esq., particularly, is this city 
indebted for introducing and maturing this mea- 
sure—and for generous presents, to many othor 
citizens and strangers, who have not permitted 
their names to come before the world. 

The growing popularity of the ^^Peophs Ly. 
ceumr and of the " Young Men^s Literary Assoda- 
tion, IS noticed with no ordinary feelings of gra- 
tification. These, commenced and continued by 
the young, fostered and cherished by all— have 
become a cheering sight to the eye of the chris- 
tian, the patriot, and the philanthropist. Estab- 
lished upon judicious principles, tending to aive a 
wholesome direction and salutary stimulus to the 
mmd of their members, the moral influence may 
be deemed of incalculable consequence to this 
g rowmg metropolis. History and science are the 
leading objects of their inquiry, facilitated and 
encouraged by the delivery of lectures, affording, 
not only instruction but recreation-creatin^ a 
taste tor the rapid acquirement of knowledo-e— 



168 



MEDICAL COLLEGE. 



giving a new impulse to the intellectual powers, 
and to the advancement of literature — all nobly 
contributing to the refinement and happiness of 
mankind. These, and others in the course of 
being established under the auspices of our most 
eloquent and learned literati, the city may class 
among the brightest of her jewels. 



«>^^ 




MEDICAL COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA. 

This building is erected on a fine lot of ground, 
on the corner of Common and Philippa streets, 
granted to the college by a recent act of the legis- 
lature. It was designed by, and completed under 
the direction of Mr. Dakin, architect, whose repu- 
tation is a guaranty for its taste and elegance. 
The location is retired, and yet near all the pub- 
lic buildings and thoroughfares. The faculty of 
this institution are gentlemen of superior qualifi- 
cations, enthusiastic in their zeal to give it the 
first place among the kindred establishments of 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 169 

the country. The advantages of New Orleans, 
for acquiring a practical knowledge of medicine 
and surgery, are superior to any city in the 
United States, especially for the study of all dis- 
eases peculiar to a southern climate. The facilities 
for prosecuting the study of anatomy and surgery 
are unrivalled. The school is well furnished 
with models, plates, casts, and every thing neces- 
sary for illustrations. The requisitions for gra- 
duation are those adopted by the best colleges. 
With these advantages presented to southern stu- 
dents, they will see the benefits resulting from an 
institution built up among them, conducted by 
gentlemen acquainted by experience with the 
wants of the country. 

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF PAINTINGS. 

This establishment occupies rooms, expressly 
built for its accommodation, at 13 St. Charles 
street, and was opened in 1844, under the personal 
inspection of the proprietor, Mr G. Cooke, who is 
himself an artist of taste, and well known among 
the profession. The principal object was, to form 
a rallying point for the exhibition of the works of 
celebrated artists, both of foreign and American 
origin, and to dispose of such as might please the 
fancy of the public, at a certain fixed price. 
Here, visitors will have an opportunity of selecting 
copies and originals from a quarter that may be 



170 If ATIONAL GALLERY. 

relied upon, works both of the old masters, and 
of the best of the modern schools. 

The proprietor is under obligations to a number 
of the gentlemen of this city, connoisseurs of paint- 
ing, for the exhibition of some of the most promi- 
nent pieces. From R. D. Shepherd, Esq., he has 
a picture by Rothmel, representing De Soto discov- 
ei'ingthe Mississippi. If this artist should leave 
no other work, his reputation, as a genius of no 
ordinary ability, will remain as durable as the 
canvas on which he has pourtrayed the Spaniard 
and the '' Father of Waters." 

From James Robb, Esq., whose magnificent 
collection of modern paintings is better known in 
other cities than our own, the gallery has received 
its richest treasures, and most valuable contribu- 
tions. The chef d'oeuvre is from the pencil of a 
native artist now at Rome, Leutze ; and illus- 
trates this sentence in our Lord's prayer — " deliver 
us from evil." To speak of this gem in terms 
equal to its merits, would place it immeasurably 
above the estimation of the age in which we live. 
Aware that it may be considered presumption to 
compare living genius with the justly venerated 
names of the immortal dead, whose works, on 
account of their antiquity and intrinsic worth, are 
doubly valued — yet, at the risk of losing our little 
reputation in such matters, we venture the asser- 
tion that this picture of Leutze's will compare with 



NATIONAL GALLERY. 171 

the most beautiful of the Italian school, and is ex- 
celled by none in America, not excepting those of 
our lamented and talented Alston. This picture 
alone would make any gallery in Europe attrac- 
tive, and the public are greatly indebted to Mr. 
Robb for the opportunity he has afforded them of 
seeing not only this, but many other brilliant pro- 
ductions. 

Here, also, is a landscape of no ordinary excel- 
lence, by Boddington, an English artist, who has 
most successfully represented one of his native 
scenes, in a style of handling peculiarly true 
and free. Here may be seen four of Doughty's 
best landscapes, and several fine specimens from 
the pencils of Cole and Chapman. The portrait 
of Col. David Crocket, as large as life, in his 
forest costume, by Chapman, and two large altar 
pieces, copied from celebrated works in the Vatican 
— The Entombing of Christ, after Corregio — and 
The Crucifixion of St.Peter, after Guido — comprise 
a portion of the more recent additions to the gallery. 

Among the most attractive performances, are 
The Wreck of the Medusa, The Roman Forum, and 
a Sketch of Rome — from the pencil of the proprie- 
tor. The first of these is very much admired — 
but, to the classical visitor, the last two are far 
more fascinating ; calling up, as they do, with all 
their endearing associations, our happy school-day 
remembrances. 



172 NATIONAL OALLERY. 

Much more might be said respecting this estab- 
lishment, but the brevity of these pages will not 
permit an indulgence of our wishes in a more 
minute detail. 

It is probably the general impression of stran- 
gers, suggested by the limited number and extent 
of the public galleries of paintings in this city, 
that there is, among us, an entire deficiency of a 
proper taste for the fine arts. And we may, our- 
selves, inadvertantly have contributed to such an 
impression, by representing our citizens as ex- 
clusively absorbed in commercial pursuits. It 
must be received, however, with many abatements. 
We have our artists, and n®t a few of them, who 
are highly talented, and deservedly patronised. 

There are choice collections of paintings in the 
possession of several private gentlemen, other than 
those already alluded to ; among which are many 
valuable productions, not only of the modern but 
ancient masters, purchased at enormous prices. 

Among others, those owned by our highly es- 
teemed fellow-citizens, Glendy Burke, H. R. W. 
Hill, and Joseph M. Kennedy, Esqs., are well worth 
a visit of the connoisseur and admirer of fine spe- 
cimens of the arts, to which the known courtesy 
of the proprietors will ch-^^erfully afford ready 
access. The only original painting of the famous 



THE PRESS. 173 

Wilkie in this country, is in the splendid collec- 
tion of Mr. Burke. 

Several fine specimens of original statues are in 
the possession of James Dick, and John Hagan, 
Esqs., which are not excelled by any collection in 
this country. 



THE PRESS. 



" What is it but a map of busy life, 
Its fluctuations, and its vast concerns V 



The diurnal press of this country, is not only a 
mighty political engine, but one of the utmost im- 
portance in a commercial and literary point of 
view. Its increase, within a few years past, like 
its extending liberty, is without a parallel, and 
almost beyond belief. Junius, in his peculiar 
manner, observes, that '' they who conceive that 
our newspapers are no restraint upon bad men, or 
impediment to the execution of bad measures, 
know nothing of this country." The force of this 
remark applies nowhere better than to the Press 
of the United States. 

Every enlightened American, who loves the 
constitution of his country, and correctly estimates 
its lofty principles, will lend his aid to preserve 



174 THE PRESS. 

these invaluable privilea^es from the violation of 
power on the one hand, and the equally injurious 
outrages of popular licentiousness on the other. 

The press of this city comes in for a portion of 
the credit that is attached to that of th-e country — 
more particularly for its elaborate commercial 
details and general literature. To embody the 
spirit of the age ; to relieve the grave by the gay; 
and to embellish the useful by the amusing, is its 
daily task. The choicest of home and foreign lit- 
erature is found in the leading issues from the New 
Orleans press. It is equally interesting to the mer- 
chant and the general reader ; and it preserves, 
above all its cotemporaries of other cities, a self- 
respect that does infinite credit to the gentlemen to 
whose hands the important trust is confided. 

There are eight daily papers published in New 
Orleans — three of which may be rated as of the 
^' mammoth" size ; the other five are smaller, but 
of sufficient dimensions to furnish the ordinary 
news of the day. They are as follows : 

The Louisiana Courier is the only evening 
paper of the city, and is published in French and 
English. This is the pioneer, before referred to 
in this work, under the name of "La Moniteur." 
The Bee, also in French and English, and the 
Commercial Bulletin, in English, make up the 
three mammoth sheets. The Picayune, the Tropic, 
the Jeffersonian Republican, the Native American, 



THE PRESS. 175 

and the New Orleans Times, are all in English. 
The New Orleans Price Current is a very useful 
publication, issued twice a week. 

In addition to these, the Catholics and Protes- 
tants each have their weekly Journals, and the 
Medical faculty their bi-nnonthly Periodicals, edited 
by the most prominent members of the profession, 
and devoted to Medicine, and Collateral Sciences. 
They are intended to bring forth the industry 
and talents of the profession in the South, and to 
furnish the most recent information of its progress 
generally. 

The subject of Organic Chemistry is that to 
which, at the present day, the eyes of all thinking 
members of the profession are directed, and upon 
which their hope of progress mainly depends, — 
the relations of chemical action to the functions 
of organized matter, the application of chemistry 
to physiology and pathology, are to be treated of 
as fully as present knowledge extends. 

Such contributions to the noble science, in 
which these gentlemen have long been successful 
labourers, cannot fail to be properly estimated 
throughout the scientific world. 



176 AMUSEMENTS. 



AMUSEMENTS. 



At the commencement of the holydays, the city 
begins to put on a gay aspect. Visitors, from all 
parts of the habitable globe, have arrived, either 
on business or pleasure. A general round of 
balls, masquerades, soirees and parties begin, and 
are continued without intermission during the sea- 
son. Theatres and operas, with their stars and 
'prima donnas, circuses and menageries, bell-ringers 
and serenaders, are in full success — and New Or- 
leans, filled with every description of amusement, 
from the top of the drama down to Judy and Punch. 
Strangers are surprised and delighted at the splen- 
dor that is carried out in these circles of pleasure, 
Our present object, however, is merely to describe 
the most conspicuous places of public resort. 

ORLEANS THEATRE. 

The site of this building was occupied by an 
edifice erected for dramatic performances in 1813, 
somewhat on the plan of the one now existing. 
This, which was built by a joint stock company, 
was burnt to the ground in 1816. Mr. John 
Davis afterwards became the sole proprietor, and 
began the erection of the present theatre. 



AMUSEMENTS. 



17^ 




The building was opened by the first dramatic 
corps, ever in Louisiana directly from France, in 
November, 1819. The total cost of the edifice 
was about $180,000. The lower story is of the 
Roman Doric order, certainly not a pure speci- 
men. The upper is what may be called the 
Corinthian composite. The interior and scenic 
arrangements of the house are excellent for seeins: 
and hearing, having a pit, or parquette, quite 
elevated and commodious, with grated boxes at 
the side for persons in mourning ; two tiers of 
boxes, and one of galleries above ; the whole 
being of such a form as to afford the greatest 
accommodation to the spectators. ' 

Nothing can exceed the decorum of the audi- 
ence, except the brilliancy of the dress circle, 
which, (m certain occasions, is completely filled 



178 AMUSEMEKTS, 

with the beautiful ladies of our city, in full eve- 
ning costume. The performances are in the 
French language, and the stock company always 
respectable. The orchestra is excellent. Melo- 
dramas and operas are perfectly got up at this 
house. The strict adherence to nature and histo- 
ry, in costume and manners, will never fail to 
please the man of taste who visits the Orleans 
theatre. 

THE NEW ST. CHAULES THEATRE, 

Like the phoenix, literally arose from the ashes 
of its predecessor. The first house was erected 
by the sole exertions of James H. Caldwell, Esq., 
in 1835, at the cost of 8250,000, exclusive of the 
ground. It occupied one hundred and twenty- 
nine feet front by one hundred and eighty-six deep, 
and was seventy-six high. It held four thousand 
people, and was the fourth in size in the world — 
one at St. Petersburg, in Russia, another at Pes- 
cala, in Milan, and the third at San Carlos, in 
Naples, were those only which excelled it in size. 
It was destroyed by fire in 1842. That structure 
was styled " the lemple of the Drama," and the 
city had good reason to be proud of such an orna- 
ment. 

The present building has a front of seventy- 
nine feet on St. Charles street, extends back one 
hundred and forty-nine, and is fifty-three high. 



AMUSEMENTS. 179 

The main entrance and front wall are remains of 
the former establishment ; which, from the sub- 
stantial workmanship, resisted the conflagration 
so effectually as to be made available the second 
time. Passing this memento, the spectator finds 
himself in the vestibule, thirty-four by twenty, 
three feet, from which a double flight of geometri- 
cally formed stairs ascend to the first tier. Here 
the pit is seen in a semi-circular shape. The 
centre box is but fifty-one feet from the foot lights, 
which brings the audience within a convenient 
distance of the stage. The depth of the front 
boxes to the rear is twenty-one feet. The prosce- 
nium presents an elevation of tbirty-nine feet in 
the clear, by fifty in width. The upper circles of 
boxes possess the like advantage of the first, in 
respect to a distinct view of the performances. 

The fronts of the boxes consist of an open 
balustrade, producing a novel, and agreeable 
effect. The dome is ornamented with sunken 
panels, suitablj'- embellished with emblematic de- 
vices. A golden-fringed national drapery falls 
from the proscenium, displaying an ingeniously 
contrived allegory in the centre. Four columns 
sustain an ornamented entablature above, compos- 
ed of a mixed style of architecture, and copied 
after those of the celebrated temple of Benares. 



180 AMUSEMENTS ■ 



THE AMERICAN THEATRE, 



Burnt on the 30th of July, 1842, was rebuilt 
and reopened on the 5th of December following, 
at a cost of 828,000. The building is ninety by 
one hundred and fifty feet, and sufficiently eleva- 
ted for all the purposes of the drama, but irregular 
in its altitude. The depth of the stage is sixty 
feet, and the width of the proscenium thirty-eight. 
The house will accommodate over fifteen hundred 
persons. It stands near Lafayette square, on 
Poydras street; and, from its isolated position, 
presents quite an imposing appearance. 



THE CIRCUS. 



The company have fitted up the old depot of 
the Carrolton rail-road, situated on the corner of 
Poydras and Baronne streets, as a place for exhi- 
biting feats of horsemanship. As the buildings 
possess no especial interest beyond these perform- 
ances, they require no particular description — but 
as this amusement has an attraction for almost 
every class of visitors, not to have referred to it 
miffht have been deemed an inexcusable oversiirht. 
There is a stage attached to this establishment ; 
and farces and the ballet relieve the monotony of 
the sports of the ring. 



THE PUBLIC SQUARES. 



Although the public squares in New Orleans 
are neither numerous, nor upon a very extended 
scale, they are located with good taste, and are 
exceedingly convenient. The centres of Canal, 
Esplanade, Rampart and Basin streets have a 
very considerable space set apart for embellish- 
ments. Shrubbery, and other ornaments, are in 
progress, and they already begin to assume a 
beauty that does much credit to the city authori- 
ties. Nothing is more conducive to health than 
these pleasant resorts for wholesome exercise. 
Here the toil-worn citizen, the wearied scholar, 
and the confined artizan, may breathe the fresh 
air, enjoy a delightful morning or evening prome- 
nade, and catch an imaginary enjoyment, in 
miniature, of the blessed country. 

Washington Square is in the third municipal- 
ity ; is bounded by the Elysian Fields, Great- 
Men's, Casa Calvo and Frenchmen streets. — 
Though admirably situated, owing to the distance 



182 PUBLIC SQUARES, 

it stands from the denser portion of the city, it has 
not yet received those attentions which, at some 
future day, will render it a beautiful promenade. 

Place d'Armes, or Parade Square, is still more 
prominent, and is embellished with fine trees ; 
but, as it is in the centre of the first municipality, 
with the public buildings on one front and the 
levee on the other, it is a matter of surprise that 
it has not been improved in a style worthy of the 
inhabitants ; who, certainly are capable of appre- 
ciating the advantages of such delightful grounds. 

Circus Place is below Rampart street, with St. 
Claude on the rear, and St. Ann and St. Peter 
streets on its sides. This is the square once known 
as Congo Park ; and is the place where the ne- 
groes, in olden times, were accustomed to meet to 
while away the cares of servitude. Many an old 
inhabitant can remember when he beheld these 
thoughtless beings dancing " Old Virginia never 
tire," or some other favorite air, with such a 
hearty gusto, upon the green sward, that the very 
ground trembled beneath their feet. Though the 
loud laugh, and the unsophisticated break-down, 
and double-shuffle of these primitive days have 
ceased, the spot yet remains, with all its reminis- 
cences, as original as ever, with its capabilities of 
improvement still unimpaired. 

Lafayette Square is decidedly the handsomest 
in the city. It is in the second municipality, and 



PUBLIC SQUARES. 183 

has St. Charles and Camp streets in front and 
rear, and several public buildings in its immediate 
neighborhood. It has a handsome and substantial 
iron railing around it, based upon well laid blocks 
of granite; is well laid off in regular walks, and 
is ornamented with beautiful and rare shrubbery, 
set out with geometrical accuracy on a raised sur- 
face, calculated to make it dry and pleasant. 

Annunciation Square, in the same municipal- 
ity, is the largest, and, consequently, may some 
day become the most elegant in the city. Orange 
and Race streets are on its front and rear — and 
facing are some very tasteful private residences. 

TivoLi Circle, as its name would imply, is a 
circular piece of land laid off as a public ground 
in Nyade, at the head of St. Charles sireet, and is 
intended to be ornamented. 



THE OLDEN TIME. 



Antiquity ! the olden time ! the hoary, venerable 
past ! there is something sacred and soul subdu- 
ing in the very sound of the words. Like the 
dying echo of the last tones of the departed, it is 
full of hallowed memories, and cherished associ- 
ations, that haunt the inner chambers of the imagi- 
nation, and linger with a mournful tenderness 
about the better feelings of the heart. 

But what have we to do with Antiquity ! They 
of the old World, who were grey with time and 
tottering with decay when, but yesterday, they saw 
us spring into being, laugh at our sometime boast 
of Antiquity ; and well they may, for it is hardly as 
well substantiated as that of the simple boy who 
conceived himself the oldest person in the world, 
because he could not remember when he was 
born. Yet even we, in the New Worl^, we, of 
its second or third generation, whose fathers were 
present at its birth and baptism, even toe begin to 
talk gravely of the olden time, and to sigh and 
look sad over the melancholy grandeur of the past ! 

Well, be it so. In these stirring times, an age 
is shorter, and sooner achieved, than in those of "the 



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THE OLDEN TIME. 187 

sluggish eld." Time is measured by events, and 
not by revolutions of the sun — by the progress of 
the mind, not by the slow sifting sands of the hour 
glass, and the amazing precocity of these latter 
days makes many ages out of a single century. 

But what a vandal spirit is innovation ! what a 
ruthless destroyer is' this boasted modern improve- 
ment ! It sweeps over the land with the energy 
of a new creation, demolishing and scattering 
whatever lies in its way, for the mere pleasure of 
reproducing it in a new and better form. It re- 
moves the ancient land marks, obliterates the last 
traces of ancient power and grandeur, levels 
mountains, fills up valleys, turns the courses of 
rivers, and makes all things bend to its iron will. 

It works such rapid and magical changes in its 
headlong career, that few of us are able to point 
out v/hat has heen, or to predict with certainty 
what ivill be to morrow, Let us cherish then, 
with deeper veneration, the few relics that remain 
of the days of our fathers. Let us reverence 
Antiquity such as it is. Let the street com- 
missioner, and the improver of old estates — 

Spare that ancient house, 
Touch not a single brick — 

It is almost alone in its sombre dignity, in the 
midst of younger and gayer edifices, that have 
swept New Orleans as it was, into the shade of ob- 
livion. Antiquity — I mean, if I may be allowed the 



188 



THE OLDEN TIME. 



Irish figure of speech — modern Antiquity, her 
countenance grave with sorrow, with here and 
there a furrow upon her yet ample brow, protests 
against the desecration of all that was dear and 
sacred. Standing on the verge of annihilation, 
with "one foot in the grave," and conscious that 
her days are numbered, her dissolution nigh at 
hand, she commands, she implores us to save one 
memento of the past, one legible souvenir of '*the 
days of auld lang syne" And here it is. 




THE OLD SPANISH BUILDING. 

At the corner of Royal and St. Anne streets, is 
delineated in the above engraving as it now stands 
— and long may it remain as a memorial of other 
times. 

Thirty years ago — which, comparatively would 
take us back three centuries in any European 



THE OLDEN TIME. 189 

city — thirty years ago, one might have seen from 
that spot, then the centre of the city, long per- 
spective street-scenes of a similar character. In- 
novation has now done her work — has absolutely 
trodden the city of the last century under her 
feet. 

The Casa Blanca, at the corner of Bienville 
and Old Levee Streets, has also escaped the gen- 
eral demolition. It was once the courtly residence 
of Bienville, the first governor of Louisiana — the 
seat of power, and the centre of wealth, beauty and 
fashion in the province. It is still on its old foun- 
dation, standing '^alone in its glory," and the spirit 
of innovation has so far respected its ancient uses, 
that it is still a treasury of wealth, and a conser- 
vatory of the sweetness of our favored clime — a 
store house of sugar and molasses ! 



EXCURSIONS. 



In consequence of the level surface of the coun- 
try in the environs of New Orleans, a great 
variety of scenery cannot be expected — yet, on the 
northern shore of lake Pontchartrain, the ground is 
somewhat higher and rolling, and affords very 
pleasant positions. Although not formed like 
the prolific north and west, in hill and dale, cliffs 
and cascades, alternately varying and beautifying 
the landscape, yet there are charming rides and 
rambles in the neighorhood of this city, of which 
a more minute account will be given under their 
respective heads, which follow. 

Carrolton, a distance of six miles by the 
rail-road, is an exceedingly pleasant resort. The 
line, for nearly a third of the way, passes through 
the suburbs of the city, and is dotted on either side 
with beautiful residences — the remainder pass- 
es through cultivated fields, pleasant pastures, and 
delightful wood-lands. The road, like the coun- 
try, is perfectly level, and kept in the finest con- 
dition. At the end of the route is situated the vil- 
lage ; which is principally composed of tastfully 
built cottages, constructed in every variety of 



192 



EXCURSIONS. 



architecture that suited the individual fancy of 
the owner. Opposite the rail-road depot, is one of 
the handsomest and most extensive public gardens, 
that is to be found in the vicinity of New Orleans. 
A race course is near by ; and the strolls around 
are quit cheering to those who fly from the tur- 
moil and dust of the metropolis. 

The shell road of the Canal and Banking Com- 
pany, affords an agreeable ride to lake Pontchar- 
train, also a distance of six miles. The highway 
runs on the margin of the canal, and is not ex- 
celled by any road in the United States. It is the 
great resort for every species of pleasure vehicle 
that the city furnishes ; and here may be seen, on an 
afternoon, all grades of society, from the gay sports- 
man, mounted on his fast trotter, to the sober citi- 
zen, who sallies forth on his ambling poney, all of 
whom appear to realize an equal share of enjoy- 
ment. A line of comfortably arranged barges 
also ply on the canal from the lake, at which 
place a convenient hotel is established. Half 
way on this road, between the city and the lake, 
is the highly celebrated Metarie race track. 

The pontchartrain rail-road, runs to the lake 
from which it derives its name, from the head 
of Elysian Fields street, a distance of five 
miles. It is a very pretty ride. This route com- 
municates with the great nothern mail line, which 
goes by the way of Mobile — and all the steamboats, 



EXCURSIONS. 193 

that traverse the lakes to the various villages and 
landings that surround it, make this their general 
starting point. From here, a passage is obtained 
to Biloxi, which, the reader will recollect, was the 
first spot settled by the French in this portion of 
the world ; and, from that circumstance, will natu- 
rally excite the curiosity of the intelligent way- 
farer. At the termination of this rail-road is a 
first-rate hotel for the accommodation of visitors. 
Here is good bathing, fishing and shooting ; and, 
beneath the shade of the trees, the breeze from 
the water is delightfully refreshing. 

The MEXICAN gulf rail-road, runs from Elysi- 
an-Fields street, on Good Children street, towards 
Lake Borgne. There are twenty eight miles of 
tliis road now in operation. When finished, it 
will afibrd considerable facilities to commerce, be- 
sides great benefit to the citizens, conveying them, 
in about one and a half hours, to the refreshing 
breeze of the ocean — where fish, oysters and 
game may be found in abundance. No doubt it 
will compete with the most favored watering 
places of Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Boloxi, 
&c. It will also be a great accommodation to the 
planters in the neighbourhood — who already, so far 
as it goes, have given it good encouragement. 
This road has recently been purchased of the 
State, by A. Gordon and Co., who, availing them- 
selves of about 22 miles of the Nashville rail- 
9 



194 EXCUESIONS. 

road iron, are bringing this work to a rapid com- 
pletion. 

The road of bayou st. john, which follows the 
sinuosities of that stream, and reaches lake Pont- 
chartrain at the site of the old fort St. John, after 
travelling the distance of about six miles, presents 
a very pleasant drive. Returning by the new 
Shell road before mentioned, it varies the route 
without adding much to the distance. 

Macdonough stands on the banks of the river 
opposite to New Orleans ; and the crossing, in the 
hottest weather, is generally accompanied by a 
slight breeze, rendered cool and pleasant by the 
mighty current of the river, which comes from 
the icy springs of the Alleghanies and the Rocky 
mountains. The village, of itself, possesses no 
great beauty — but the country, the beautiful coun- 
try is all around — and the noise and confusion of 
the city no longer annoy you. The great attrac- 
tion at this spot is in visiting the United States 
marine hospital, one of the handsomest structures 
in Louisiana, which stands a little above. 

Algiers adjoins, and seems a part of Macdon- 
ough. This is the great work-shop of New Or- 
leans, for the building and repairing of vessels. 
It has its dry docks, and other facilities for the 
most extensive operations. In business times, it 
presents a scene of activity that is seldom obser- 
ved in any other part of these regions, and re- 



EXCURSIONS. 195 

minds one of the bustling and enterprise of the 
North. The period has been when Algiers pre- 
scribed the law, vi et armis, to the city itself — but 
the day and the disposition, have happily long 
since passed away. 

Gretna, on the same shore, is nearly two miles 
further up the river, and stands opposite Lafay- 
ette. The whole distance is spotted with comfort- 
able residences, principally inhabited by the 
owners of the adjoining grounds, and the walk 
from Algiers to this village is very gratifying to 
one partial to such exercise. There is a steam- 
boat constantly plying from here to the city, which 
affords a desirable excursion of nearly three miles, 
touching at Lafayette in its passage each way. 
The village has a rural appearance, is regularly 
laid out, and exhibits some neat tenements. The 
forest approaches quite near ; and, the idea that 
one may so easily lose himself in the neighbour- 
ing woods, gives to the place a touch of romance 
which only the denizens of a crowded city know 
how to appreciate. From the great number of 
cattle observed along the shore, it would seem as 
if there was no necessity of diluting the milk for 
the New Orleans market, unless the milkmen be 
tea-total temperance men, and take this method to 
introduce the inhabitants gradually to a taste for 
water. 

The race courses. There are three of these 



196 EXCURSIONS. 

in the vicinity of this city. The Louisiana, near 
lake Pontchartrain ; the Metairie, near the Shell 
road ; and the one at Carrolton. These are as 
well patronised as any in the country, and, in the 
racing season, the inhabitants of the neighbouring 
states, from a great distance, flock hither to par- 
ticipate in the sports of the turf Much praise has 
been bestowed upon the arrangements on these oc- 
casions. Even here, as in many other countries, 
the ladies, by their presence, have given them 
countenance and encouragement — and the course 
usually is " gemmed by the rich beauty of the 
sunny south." 

The battle ground, (formerly known as " the 
Plains of Chalmette,'') the very naming of which 
causes the bosom of an American to swell with 
patriotic pride, lies five miles below the city. It 
may be approached either by the Grand Gulf rail- 
road, or by a good highway along the levee, the 
new Convent and United States barracks being 
within full view. But first it may be necessary to 
look briefly at the historical facts which give ce- 
lebrity to the spot. 

Early in December, 1814, the British ap- 
proached New Orleans, about 8000 strong, by the 
way of the lakes Borgne and Pontchartrain. 
Their passage into the lake was opposed by a 
squadron of gun-boats under Lieut. Jones. After 
a spirited conflict, in which the killed (500) and 



EXCURSIONS. 197 

the wounded of the enemy exceeded the whole 
American force, he was compelled to surrender to 
superior numbers. 

On the 21st of Dec. four thousand militia ar- 
rived from Kentucky and Tennessee, under Gen- 
eral Jackson. On the 22nd, the enemy having 
previously landed, took a position near the Miss- 
issippi, eight miles below the city. On the even- 
ing of the 23d, the Americans made a furious at- 
tack upon their camp, and threw them into disor- 
der, with five hundred of their men killed. The 
enemy rallied ; and Gen. Jackson withdrew his 
troops, and fortified a strong position six miles 
below the city, supported by batteries on the west 
side of the river. Here he was unsuccessfully 
assailed on the 28th of Dec. and 1st of Jan., the 
enemy losing two hundred to three hundred men. 
In the mean time both armies received reinforce- 
ments. 

The decisive battle was fought on the 8th day of 
Jan. 181.5. The American right was on the river, 
running in a right angle to the wood. A redoubt 
was raised (which is still visible) strengthened by 
bales of cotton along the whole line. The enemy 
were about a half mile lower down, on a parallel 
line, their head quarters resting on the river, near 
three large oaks which still mark the spot. The 
scene is distinct, and this is the battle ground. 

The British commenced the assault at day light. 



198 EXCURSIONS. 

As they approached the works, sixty deep, many 
were killed by grape shot ; but, when they came 
within musket range, a destructive stream of fire 
burst forth from the American lines. Our troops 
were placed in two ranks, the rear loading while 
the front fired, thus pouring an incessant peal — 
which, from Kentucky and Tennessee riflemen, 
was most deadly. While leading on the troops of 
the enemy, Gen. Pakenham, the chief in command, 
was killed ; Gen. Gibbs, the second in command, 
was wounded mortally; and Gen. Keene severely. 
Without officers to direct them, the troops halted, 
fell back, and soon fled in confusion to their camp. 
In a little over an hour, two thousand out of eight 
thousand veterans lay dead upon the field, while 
the Americans had but seven killed and six woun- 
ded — a disproportion unparalled in the history of 
warfare. Gen. Lambert, upon whom the com- 
mand then devolved, after one more unsuccessful 
attempt to assault, availed himself of a truce of 
twenty-four hours to bury the dead, made good his 
retreat — which Gen. Jackson felt no disposition to 
molest, as he was resolved to hazard none of his 
advantages. Thus was New Orleans saved from 
the hands of an invading enemy whose War cry 
was — "Beauty and Booty." 

The British lost during the month they were in 
Louisiana, more than three thousand three hun- 
dred and fifty in killed, while the loss of the 



EXCURSIONS. 199" 

Americans was not two hundred. The wounded 
of the enemy must have been much less, on ac- 
count of the sure aim of the backwoodsmen* 
The greater portion of our army were plain honest 
farmers — who knew nothing of battle — they heard 
that their country was in danger — the country 
which gave a home to them, and their children, 
and they flew to its defence, — drove the invaders 
from their shores, and then returned to their homes 
to till the ground. 

It is not a matter of surprise — though the battle 
is without a parallel in the history of the world — 
that even " invincibles," were so dreadfully rout- 
ed by undisciplined backwoodsmen defending 
their native soil, with their wives and children be- 
hind them. 

A jaunt to these grounds is a sort of pilgrimage, 
that no stranger will, that no citizen can neglect. 
Not to have seen the field of this great victory, 
would be a reflection upon the taste, not to say the 
patriotism of any who should visit our city. The 
ground it is true, presents few memorials to remind 
the patriotic visitor of the deadly strife. There is no 
proud monument, towering to the sky, to mark 
the place where the great victory was won. But 
he beholds the consequences wherever he turns 
his eye, and he feels them — deeply feels them in 
every throb of his heart. Those born upon the 
soil, and those who participated in the struggle. 



200 



EXCURSIONS. 



have reason to be proud of the spot, and to cher- 
ish the memory of that eventful day. If there is 
no lofty structure of granite or marble, to per- 
petuate the glorious achievement, it has a holier, 
a more enduring memorial in the heart of every 
true American, which thrills with lofty pride at 
every allusion to it, as did the ancient Greek at the 
name of Marathon, or the Spartan at that of Ther- 
mopylae. 




TRAVELLING ROUTES. 



The facilities which this metropolis affords for 
reaching any accessible portion of the world, par- 
ticularly all sections of the union, are not excell- 
ed. Steam and sailing ships of the first class, 
hold commercial intercourse with almost every 
nation. Steam-boats, with accommodations equal 
to the best regulated hotels, are plying through 
every river and bayou. Four to five thousand 
miles can be achieved, in those floating palaces, 
with perfect ease, and comparative safety. 

The principal routes between the north and the 
south are here given, as also the intermediate 
places, together with those inland most frequented 
by the traveller and the man of business, and the 
distances carefully noted as they diverge, in their 
various directions. Beside the four annexed routes 
to New York, there are several that lead to favor- 
ite watering places, and other points attractive 
to travellers of leisure, which it would be quite 
impracticable to lay down in a work of this kind. 
9* 



202 



TRAVELLING ROUTES. 



They can always obtain information of these 
resorts, from intelligent companions on the road, 
that will prevent their deviating much from the 
point they wish to attain. The distances on the 
river have been corrected agreeably to the latest 
survey. The other routes conform to the most 
approved authorities ; and, frequently, have been 
corrected by personal observation, with the utmost 
care and attention. 



RotrxE 1. — From JVew Or- 



Miles. 



leans to JSTew York, via 






Princeton, Miss., 


10 


510 


Pittsburg, Pa., by Steamboat. | 


Columbia, Ark., 


45 


555 




Miles.l 


Bolivar, Miss., 


53 


608 


Xew Orleans to Carrolton, 


6 




Napoleon, (Arkansas,) 


12 


620 


Red Church, 


20 


26 


Victoria, 


20 


640 


Bonne Carre Church, 


16 


42 


Delta, 


66 


706 


Jefferson College, 


22 


64 


Helena, 


10 


716 


Donaldsonsville, 


19 


83 


Sterling, 


10 


726 


Louisiana Institute, 


12 


95 


Peyton, Miss., 


12 


738 


St. Gabriel Church, 


12 


lo- 


Commerce, 


33 


771 


Plaquemine, 


10 


ll? 


Buck Island, 


6 


777 


Baton Rouge, 


23 


140 


Memphis, Tenn., 


21 


798 


Port Hudson, 


25 


165 


Devil's Race Ground, 


34 


832 


Bayou Sara, 


11 


176 


Randolph, Tenn., 


33 


865 


Tunica Bend, 


27 


203 


Fulton, Tenn., 


11 


876 


Red River, cut off, 


33 


236 


Plumb Point, 


10 


886 


Fort Adams, Miss., 


11 


247 


Ashport, 


12 


898 


Homo Chitta River, Miss. 


10 


257 


Needham's Cut-off, 


8 


906 


Ellise Cliffs, Miss., 


26 


283 


Walker's Bend, 


31 


937 


Natchez, Miss., 


18 


301 


Riddel's Point, 


18 


955 


Rodney, Miss., 


31 


332 


New Madrid, Mo., 


10 


965 


Bruinsburg, Miss., 


12 


344 


Mills' Point, 


42 


1007 


GrandGulf,( big black) Miss 10 


354 


Columbus, K., 


15 


1022 


Carthage, Miss., 


25 


379 


Cairo, (Mo'thOhio R'r 


) 11, 18 


1040 


Warrenton, Miss., 


19 


398 


Trinity, 


6 


1046 


Vicksburg, Miss., 


10 


408 


America, 11., 


5 


1051 


Old River, (Yazoo,) Miss 


, 12 


420 


Caledonia, 11., 


3 


1054 


Tompkins' Bend, 


46 


466 


Fort Massac, 11., 


23 


1077 


Providence, La., 


15 


481 


Paducah, (M.TennR'i 


)K. 8 


1085 


Bunch Bend, 


19 


I 500 


Smithfleld,(M. Cum'd) K. 1 


1097 



TRAVELLIN& ROUTES. 



203 



Galconda, II., 
Tower Rock, 
Cave in the Rock, 
Battery Rock, 
Shawneetown, II., 
Raleigh, K., 
Wabash River, 
Carthage, K., 
Mount Vernon, la., 
Henderson, K., 
Evanville, la., 
Ovvensboro, K., 
Rockport, 
Troy, la., 
Cloverport, 
Stephensport, K., and 

Rome, la., 
Fredonia, 
Leavenworth, 
Mauckport, la., 
Brandenburg, 
West Point, K., 
Portland, K., and New 

A Ibany, la., 
Shlppingport, 
Louisville, K., 
Jetfersonville, la., 
Westport, K., 
Bethlehem, 
New London. 
Madison, la., 
Port William, K., 
Vevay, la., and Ghent K., 
Warsaw, K., 
Rising Sun, la., 
Bellevue, 
Petersburg, 
Aurora, 
Lawrenceburg, 
North Bend, 

Cincinnatti, O., and Cov- 
ington and Newport, K., 
Columbia, 
Richmond, 
Point Pleasant, 
Macon, 
Neville, 

Mechanicsburg, O., 
Augusta, 



Miles. 



1115' Levana, O., and Dover, K. 

1130 Ripley, O., 

11351 Charleston, K., 

1144! Maysville, K., and Aber- 

11.56, deen, O., 

11 6-2 Manchester, O., 

1168! Vanceburg,K., 

1175 I Alexandria, 

1188 Portsmouth, O., 



1216 
1228 
1264 
1276 
1292 
1313 



1323 

1357 

2|1359 



1373 
1376 
1394 

1414 
1415 
1418 
1419 
1438 
1444 
1450 
14.57 
1471 
1479 
1490 
1510 
1512 
1519 
1521 
1524 
1531 

1548 
1556 
1569 
1573 
1577 
1580 
1583 
1590 



Miles. 
2 1592 
31595 
51600 

7)1607 
1111618 
16 1634 
18 1 1652 

2! 1654 

8ll662 
13 1674 
23,1697 

711704 
35|1739 



1742 
1772 
1800 
1805 



Concord, O., 
Greenupsburg, K., 
Burlington, O., 
Guyandot, Va., 
Galliopolis, O., 

Point Pleasant, 3 

Letart's Rapids, 30 

Belleville, Va., 28 

Troy, O., 5 
Belpie and Blennerhas- 

sett's Island, 12 1817 

Parkersburg, Va., 21819 

Vienna, Va., 5 1824 

Marietta, O., 611830 

Newport, O., 15)845 

Sistersville, 27; 1872 

Wheeling, Va., 40 1912 

Warren, 9jl92l 

Wellsburg, Va., 6! 1927 

Steubenville, 711934 

Welleville. O., 20 1954 

Georgetown, 71962 

Beaver, 13 1974 

Economy, 12 1986 

Middletown.Pa., 81994 

Pittsburg, Pa., 10 2004 

VVarrenton, by Canal 47 2051 

Biairsville, do 28 2079 

Johnstown, do 29 2108 
HoUidaysburg. by rail road, 37 2145 

Alexandria, by Canal, 26 2171 

Lewision, do 57 2228 

Newport, do 36 2264 

Harris burg, do 26 2290 
Philadelphia, by rail road 101 2391 

Trenton, do 28 2419 

Brunswick, do 27i2446 

Jersey City, do 3112477 
New York, by steamboat, 1 12478 



204 



TRAVELLING ROUTES. 



Route 2.— JVew Orleans 






by steam boat 


Mies. 


to Mew York, via St 




Middle Sister Island, do 2C 


1900 


Louis, Chicago am 




North Bass Island. do IC 


1910 


Buffalo, [see route 1, 




Cunningham's 


Island, do IC 


1920 


to Mouth of the Ohio 




Sandusky, 0., 


do IS 


1932 


Steamboat to St. Joseph 




Cleaveland, 0. 


do 54 


1986 




Miles. 


Fairport, O., 


do 30|2016 


Mouth of Ohio, 


(1040 


Ashtabula, 0., 


do 3212048 


Elk Island, 


8 1048 


Fair view. Pa., 


do 28'2076 


Dogtooth Island, 


8 


1056 


Erie, Pa., 


do 112087 


English Island, 


15 


1071 


Bugett'sTown, 


Pa., do 172104 


Cape Giradeau, Mo., 


12 


1083 


Portland, N. Y 


do 18 2122 


Bainbridge, Mo„ and 




1 


Dunkirk, N. Y. 


do 18;2140 


Hamburg, 11., 


10 


1093 


Cattaraugus, N 


.Y., do 13 2153 


liacouse's Island, 


31 


1124 


Sturgeon Point, 


N. Y., do 10|2163 


Kaskaskia River, 


15 


1139 


Buftalo, N. Y., 


do 1612179 


River au Vases, 


10 


1149 


VViUiamsville, by rail road, 10 2189 


St. Genevieve, Mo., 


9 


1158 


Pembroke, 


do 16 2205 


Fort Chartres Island, 


10 


1168 


Batavia, 


do 1412219 


Rush Island, 


10 


1178 


Rochester, 


do 25 2244 


Herculaneum, Mo., 


10 


1188 


Canandagua, 


do 25 2269 


Harrison, 11., 


1 


1189 


Geneva, 


do 162285 


Merrimack River 


11 


1200 


Waterloo, 


do 7 


2292 


Carondelet, Mo., 


13 


1213 


Seneca lalls. 


do 4 


2296 


St. Louis, Mo., 


7 


1220 


Cayuga, 


do 3 


2299 


Alton, 11., 


22 


12421 


Auburn, 


do 9 


2308 


Illinois River, 


15 


12571 


Skaneatelas 


do 7 


2315 


Monroe, 


5 


12621 


Marcellus, 


do 6 


2321 


Guilford, 


10 


1272 


Onondaga, 


do 8 


2329 


Montezuma, 


20 


1292 


Manilas, 


do 12 


2341 


Augusta, 


15 


1307 


Oneida, 


do 18 


2359 


Meridosia, 


23 


1330 


Utica, 


do 22 


2381 


Beardstown, 


16 


1346 Herkimer, 


do 16 


2397 


Havana, 


27 


13731 Little Falls, 


do 7 


2404 


Pekin, 


34 


14071 Caughnawaga, 


do 33 


2437 


Peoria, 


7 


1414 Amsterdam, 


do 1(J 


2447 


Henry, 


10 


424, Schenectady, 


do 15 


2462 


Columbia, 


10 


1434! Albany, 


do 15 


2477 


Lacon, 


4 


1438 New Baltimore, 


steamboat. 15 


2492 


Hennepin, 


18 


14.56^Kinderhook landing, do 4 


2496 


Chippeway, 


161472 


Hudson, 


do 9 


2505 


Shippingport, 


2I 14741 


Catskill, 


do 5 


J510 


Dresden, 


46i 15201 


IJlermont, 


do 9 


2519 


Mount Joliet, 


15 f 1535 


Red hook, upper 


landing, 2 


2521 


Lockport, 


i6 


1541 


Redhook, lower 


do 3 


2524 


Chicago. II., 


29 


1570! 


Rhinebeck. 


do 7 


2531 


Michigan City, Ind., 


5-:> 


1622iEsopus, 


do 1 


2532 


New Buffalo, M., 


12 


1634 


Hyde Park, 


do 9 


2541 


St. Joseph, M., 


28 


1662 


'oughkeepsie, 


do 5 


2546 


Detroit, by rail road, 200 1 


1862 


Vew Hamburg, 


do 8 


2554 


Fighting Island, by steam 






Vewburg, 


do 7 


2561 


boat 


12 


1874 


Pishkill, 


do 1 


2562 


Amhurstsburg, U. C, do 


6 


880 


New Windsor, 


do 1 


2563 



TRAVELLING ROUTES. 



205 



Cold Sping, by steam 

West Point, 

St. Anthony's Nose, 

Fort Fayette, 

Stony Point, 

Haverstraw, 

Sing Sing, 

Tarrytown, 

Phillips town, 

Fort Independence, 

Fort Washington, 

Fort Lee, 

Manhattanville, 

New York, 



boat, 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 

do 



Miles 
3 2566 
•2569 
■2576 
•2581 
258 
2586 
2589 
2595 
2605 
2609 
2611 
2612 
2614 
2622 



Route 3.— JVew Orleans 
toJVew York, via Wheel- 
ing and Baltimore. 

To Wheeling, by steam 

boat, [see route l.J ^912 

Cumberland, by stage, 131 2043 
Hancocktown Md, railroad 39 2082 

Williamsport, Md.. do 27 2109 

Frederickstown, Md., do 27 2i:i6 

Poplar, Md., do 202156 

Ellicott's, Md., do 17|217.'^' 

Baltimore, Md„ do 1012183 

Havre de Grace. Del., do 3l!2214| 

Wilmington, Del., do 36 22.50 

Philadelphia, Pa., do 26 2276 

New York, (see route 2,) 88 2364 



Route 4. — JN'ew Orleans 
to J^ew York, Mail line. 

Point Pontchartrain, by 

rail road, 
Fort Pike, by steamboat 
Bay St. Louis, 
Biloxi, 

Pascagoula, Miss 
Cedar Point, Al., 
Mobile, Al., 
Junction of Alabama and 

Tombigkbe river do 65 
Claiborne, do 72 

Black Bluff, do 46 

Dale Town, do 35 





5 


boat 


21 


do 


33 


do 


31 


do 


20 


do 


26 


do 


28 



Canton, by steam boat. 
Portland, do 

Cahaba, do 

Selma, do 

Benton, do 

V'ernon, do 

Loch Ranza do 

Washington, do 

Montgomery do 

Chehaw, Al., by railroad, 
Covington, Ga., by stage, 
Augusta. Ga., by railroad, 
Charleston, S. C, do 
Wilmington, N. C. by 

steamboat, 
Weldon, N. C, railroad, 
Richmond, Va., do 
Washington City, do 
Baltimore, Md., do 
New York, (see route 3.) 

Route 5. — JNTew Orleans 
to Fort Gibson by steam 
boat. 

Arkansas river, 
(see route 1) 

Arkansas, 

New Gascony, 

Pine Bluffs, 

Little Rock, 

Lewisburg, 

Scotia, 

Morrison's BlufiJ 

Van Beuren, 

Fort Smith, 

Fort Coffee, Mo., 

Fort Gibson, 

Route 6.—J\rew Orleans 
to Balize, and Gulf of 
Mexico, by Steam boat. 

Battle Ground, 

English Turn, 

Fort St. Leon, 

Poverty Point, 

Grand Prairie, 

Fort St. Philip, 

South West Pass, 

South Pass, 

Pass a' I'Outre, 

Balize, 

Gulf. 



Miles. 
14 396 



425 
446 
464 
499 
538 
544 
560 
57'2 
401 612 
155 767 
121 888 
136 1024 



1244 
1414 
1538 
1660 
1700 
1881 



620 

682 
71 753 
25 778 

1.50 928 
66 994 
50 1044 
33' 1077 
72^1149 
8 1157 
10 1167 
84 1251 



11 
16 
34 
61 
70 
79 
81 
83 
87 
92 



206 



TRAVELLINR ROUTES. 



Miles. 



Miles 



Route l.—J^ew Orleans 




11 


Route 9.— JVew Orleans 




to the Raft on Red 






to JSTashville, Tenn., by 


River, by Steamboat 






Steamboat. 




Mouth of Red River, 


236 




Cumberland river, 


1097 




Black River, 


28 


364 


Eddyville, K., 


56 


1153 


Bayou Saline, 


20 


284 


Canton, 


20 


11V3 


Alexandria, 


56 


340 


Dover, Tenn., 


30 


1203 


Regolet de Bondieu, 


18 


358 


Palmyra, 


31 


1234 


Bayou Cane, 


36 


394 


Red River, 


6 


1240 


Natchitoches, 


24 


418 


Harpeth River, 


20 


1260 


Bastian's Landing, 


40 


458 


Nashville, 


40 


1300 


The Raft, 


40 


498 














Route 10— JVeic Orleans 




Route 8.— JVcto Orleans 






to Florence, Ala., by 




to Pittsburg, Miss., by 






Steamboat. 






Steamboat. 






Tennessee River, 


1085 




Mouth of Yazoo River, 






Petersville, Tenn., 


71 


1156 


Miss., 


420 




Reynoldsburg, 


36 


1192 


Satartia, 


66 


486 


Perryville, 


42 


1234 


Liverpool, 


5 


491 


CrroUviUe, 


27 


1261 


Manchester, 


25| 516 


Cotfee, 


26 


1287 


Tchula, 


88 


1 604 


Savannah, 


9 


2196 


Marion, 


37 


641 


Waterloo, 


25 


1321 


Mouth of Yalo Busha river, 33 


674 


Bear Creek, 


12 


1333 


Cochuma, 


38 


712 


Colbert's Ferry, Tenn., 


14 


1347 


Pittsburg, 


27 


739 


Florence, Al., 


24 


1371 




GENERAL INDEX. 



Academies for Females, 44 

Algiers, a description of, 194 

Alligators, killed for their skins, 42 

American Theatre, erected in 1823, 67 

description of, 180 

Amusements, 176 

Ancient Settlements supposed to have existed, 11 

Anecdote of an old Frenchman, 68 

early cotton growing, 47 

Annunciation Square, 183 

Church, 100 

Armories, 149 

Association, Young Men's Howard, 115 

Associations for charitable and other purposes, 110 

Asylums of New Orleans, their excellence, ib. 

Asylum, Catholic Male Orphan, 114 

Female do 110 

Male do 113 

Milne do 116 

Poydras Female do 113 

Les dames de la Providence, 114 

Attakapas Prairie, 38 

Parish, 39 

produces aSundance of live oak, 33 



208 GENERAL INDEX. 

Atchafalaya lands, 34 

Bank of Louisiana, 155 

Louisiana State, 153 

Canal, 155 

City, 154 

Mechanics' and Traders', 153 

Gas, 154 

Banks' Arcade, 156 

Bard, Captain, Return of, 16 

Bar of New Orleans, 79 

Barracks, the United States, 86 

Baton Rouge taken, 24 

Battle Ground, 196 

Bayou St. John Road, .' 194 

Beautiful land bordering the Teche, 33 

Bellevue Prairie, 40 

Benevolent Society, Hebrew, 116 

Best lands, 31 

Bienville, made governor 17 

is superceded in 1710 ib. 

deceives the English captain, 16 

is reappointed governor in 1717, 17 

founds New Orleans, 1718, 18 

sails for France in 1727, 20 

is succeeded by Perrier, ib. 

governor for the third time, ib. 

resigns in 1741, ib. 

Biloxi settled by Iberville, 16 

Board of Health established in 1841, 71 

Boatmen of the Mississippi, 75 

Bottom lands, their luxuriance, 30 

Boundaries of the State of Louisiana, 28 

Territory of Louisiana, 7 

Branch Mint of the United States, 88 



GENERAL INDEX. 209 

Branch Bank of the United States, established 1805, .. 66 

Breed of cattle improving, 56 

Bricks, why they are not well made, 57 

Buildings, the public, 86 

Burr, Aaron, 26 

Business season, appearance of the levee in the 81 

Calcasieu prairie, 40 

Caldwell, James H., his great enterprise, 67 

Carmelite Convent, 104 

Carondelet appointed governor in 1792, 25 

fortifies New Orleans in 1792, 64 

his schemes defeated by Gen. Wilkinson, . 26 

Casa Blanca, 189 

Carrolton, 191 

Casa Calvo succeeds governor Gayosa de Lemor, 26 

is succeeded by Salado, ib. 

Catholic Cemeteries, 107 

Cathedral, 92 

Cattle, improvement in the breed, 56 

Ceded to the United States, Louisiana, 26 

Cemetery, Cypress Grove, 105 

Catholic, 107 

Protestant, 108 

St. Patrick's, 109 

Chapel of the Ursulines, 98 

St. Antoine's, or the Mortuary, 97 

Wesleyan, 103 

Charitable Association, the Samaritan, 1 14 

the Firemen's, 115 

Charitable institutions, HO 

Charity Hospital 117 

Church, Annunciation, 100 

St. Augustine, 96 

Christ, 99 



210 GENERAL INDEX. 

Cliurcli,St. Pauls, 95 

St. Patricks, 95 

First Presbyterian, 100 

Second do, 101 

First Congregational, ib 

Methodist Episcopal, 102 

First Baptist, ib 

Circus, the, 180 

Circus Place, 182 

Circus street Infirmity, 124 

City Exchange, (St. Louis,) 157 

Bank, 154 

Hall, 134 

Improvements, an anecdote, 68 

Proper, its extent, ib 

Prisons, 129 

Clay, of a very pure kind, 57 

Clergy, of New Orleans, 79 

Climate of Louisiana, 45 

College of Louisiana^ 43 

Jefferson, ib 

Franklin, ib 

Medical, 168 

Colonial system introduced, 17 

carried out, 21 

Colony transfered to France in 1803, 24 

Colorado ascended by La Salle, 15 

Comedians first arrived in 1791, 64 

become teachers, ib 

Commercial advantages of New Orleans, 81 

Commercial exchange, 159 

prosperity commences in 1795, 25 

Comparative speed of navigating the Mississippi, 80 

Congregational Church, first 101 



GENERAL INDEX. 211 

Convent of Ursuline nuns, erected in 1730, 61 

its description, 103 

Convent, new one erected in 1824, 61 

its description, 104 

Coast, the, 31 

Convent, the Carmelite, 104 

at Grand Coteau, 44 

Cotton, when first exported, an anecdote, 47 

the quantity estimated for 1844, 45 

opinions on the fluctuating price of, 48 

its consumption in New England, 49 

in England, ib 

will present prices sustain the planter ] 50 

the produce of Texas, ib 

lands, where thebest, 34 

Factories, 151 

Presses, 152 

Court house, 133 

Creoles their character, 73 

Crevasse,in 1816, 42 

in 1844, at Bonne Carre, ib 

Crozat, Antonio, obtains an exclusive privilege, 17 

Cuba tobacco seed does well in Louisiana, 54 

Cultivation of sugar, 21 

of Cotton, 47 

of madder, 51 

of silk, 53 

of hemp, ib 

of the vine, 55 

of tobacco, 54 

of indigo, 55 

of orange and fig do, 20 

Currency, evil of its depreciation, 19 

Custom house, description of it, 89 



212 GENEKAL INDEX. 

Custom House, a new one contemplated, 90 

Cypress Grove Cemetry, 105 

Death of Iberville, 17 

de Soto, 10 

Delta of the Mississippi, 37 

Deposite of red river, 34 

Description of United States Barracks, 86 

Branch Mint, 88 

Description of the Custom House, 89 

Post Office, 90 

StateHouse, 91 

Cathedral, 92 

St. Patrick's Church, 95 

St. Augustine do 96 

Mortuary Chapel, 97 

Annunciation Church, 100 

Chapel of the Ursulines, 98 

Christ Church, 99 

St. Pauls do, lb 

First Presbyterian do, 100 

Second do do, 101 

Methodist Episcopal do, 1 02 

Wesleyan Chapel, 103 

old Ursuline Convent, lb 

new^ do 104 

Court House, 133 

City Hall, 134 

St. Charles Exchange, 137 

Verandah, 141 

City Exhange, (St. Louis,) 157 

Discovery of the Mississippi, 7 

Disputed Territory, 8 

Division of the city in 1836, 67 

Don Ulloa driven away, 22 



GENERAL INDEX. 213 

Don O'Reilly takes possession, 23 

Duelling punished by disfranchise, 78 

Educationin Louisiana, 43 

Elliot, Andrew, 26 

" English Turn," whence derived, 16 

Exchange Hotel, (St. Charles,) 137 

Merchants', 161 

(St. Louis,) City, 157 

Commercial, 159 

Excursions, 191 

Extent of the territory of Louisiana, 9 

New Orleans, in 1810, 66 

the City Proper, 68 

Feliciana, West, parish of 32 

Female Orphan Asylum, 110 

Fig trees introduced, 20 

Fire consumes nine hundred houses in 1778, 62 

many buildings in 1796, 65 

Seven blocks of houses in 1844, 70 

Fire department, 149 

Firemen's Charitable Association, 115 

First steamboat arrives at New Orleans, 27 

First Presbyterian Church, 100 

Congregational do, 101 

Florida invaded by Gov. Galvez, in 1779, 24 

Floating Prairies, a great natural curiosity, 35 

Flour mill, 151 

Fort Charlotte taken, 24 

Fountain of Health, 9 

Franklin College, 43 

Infirmary, 124 

Gas Works, a description of them, 144 

the city lighted with it in 1834, 70 

Gayosa de Lemormade governor, 26 



214 GENERAL IITDEX, 

Gayosa de Lemor succeeded by Casa Calvo, 26 

German emigrants settle along the coast in 1723, 60 

supply the city with vegetables, ib. 

Grape vines, where to be cultivated, 55 

Grazing, the very best lands for it, ib. 

Gretna, 195 

Gypsum, valuable beds found, 56 

Health of New Orleans, 77 

Hebrew Benevolent Society, 116 

Hemp suited to the higher grounds, 53 

an immense article of consumption, ib. 

necessary in time of war, 54 

Hernandez de Soto, first discovery of Louisiana, 7 

his death, 10 

Historical Sketch of New Orleans, 58 

Hospitality of the inhabitants of Opelousas, 40 

Hospitals, easy access to them, 117 

the Charity, ib. 

Hotel, Exchange, (St. Charles,) 137 

the Verandah, 141 

St. Louis Exchange, 143 

Hewlett's, ib. 

Planters', ib. 

National, ib. 

Hallof Second Municipality, 127 

Hurricane devastates New Orleans 1 723 , 60 

Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, article, 48 

Iberville enters the Mississippi, 16 

establishes the first settlement at Biloxi, ib. 

founds Natchez, 17 

his death, ib. 

Lnprovement in New Orleans in 1824, 66 

Incorporation of New Orleans in 1805, ib. 

Indian massacre of the whites at Natchez, 19 



GENERAL INDEX. 215 

Indigo cultivated in 1728, 20 

cultivation now much neglected, 55 

Infirmary, Circus street, 124 

Franklin, ib. 

Inquisition, its establishment frustrated in 1785, 25 

Iron foundery, 150 

Jefferson College, 43 

Jesuits and Ursuline Nuns arrived in 1 727, 60 

expelled by Clement XIII., in 1763, 61 

their property confiscated, ib. 

their immense wealth, ib. 

curious documents of them in archives of first 

municipality, ib. 

La Dames de la Providence, , 114 

Lafayette Square, 182 

Lafourche, Bayou, 32 

Lakes, inlets, and sounds, 37 

La Salle descends the Mississippi to the Gulf, 14 

builds a fort at the mouth of Little Miami, . ib. 

sails for France, 15 

goes into the bay of St. Bernard, ib. 

ascends the Colorado, ib. 

forms a settlement on St. Bernard's bay,.... ib. 

is murdered by Dehault, ib. 

his character and enterprise, ib. 

Law, John, the Scotch financier, 18 

Learned professions, divinity, law, and medicine, 79 

Le Moniteur, first paper published in New Orleans, . 25 

Levee, its extent, 31 

crevasse in 1816 and 1844, 42 

its appearance in the business season, 81 

Cotton Press, 152 

Literary Association, Young Men's, 167 

Live oak of Attakapas, its abundance , 33 



216 GENERAL INDEX. 

Louisiana, territory of, its discovery, 7 

its boundaries, lb 

transferred to Spain, 22 

retransferred to France in 1803, 26 

sold to the United States in 1803, ib. 

the State of, admitted to the union in 1812, ... 27 

its boundaries, surface and soil, 28 

its vast prairies, 30 

its improvement in education, 43 

College of, ib. 

mutton unsurpassed, 56 

the climate of, 45 

State Bank, 153 

Medical College, 168 

Luxuriance of the bottom lands, 34 

Lyceum, Public School, 166 

the People's, 167 

Madder described, how cultivated, 51 

price, duties, and demand for it, ib. 

Maison de Sante, 123 

Male Orphan Asylum, 113 

Manufactures, 150 

Marine Hospital, United States, 125 

Markets of New Orleans, 135 

Market, Poydras street, 136 

the Vegetable, ib. 

the Meat, ib. 

Market, St. Mary's, 137 

Marquette descends the Mississippi, 13 

Marshes, extensive near the ocean, 38 

Masonic Fraternities, 80 

Massacre at Natchez, 19 

Meat Market, 136 

Mechanics' and Traders' Bank, 153 



GENERAL INDEX. 217' 

Medical Science, 79 

Medical College of Louisiana, 168 

Merchants' Exchange, 161 

Reading Room, ib 

Meteorological Journal, an abstract from the, 72 

Methodist Episcopal Church, 102 

Mexican Gulf Rail-road, 193 

Military strength of New Orleans in 1792, 64 

Milne Orphan Asylum, 116 

Minerals of Louisiana, 56 

Mint, Branch of the United States, 88 

Miro succeeds Galvez as governor, 25 

carries the colonial system into effect, ib 

Mississippi River discovered by De Soto, 10 

River made free in 1795, 25 

Valley, its vast extent, 83 

boatmen, description of them, 74 

immensity of its produce, 82 84 

Delta of, 37 

Moral character of New Orleans, 78 

Muscoso's Adventures, 10 

Mulberry trees prolific in Louisiana, 53 

Municipal Hall, 127 

Muskeet grass, excellent for cattle, 55 

Mutton, 56 

Natchez massacre of the whites, 19 

tribe defeated, ib 

founded by Iberville, 17 

National Hotel, 143 

Gallery ofPaintings, 169 

Natchitoches tobacco , very superior, 54 

Nature of the soil ofLouisiana, 29 

New Orleans founded by Bienville in 1718, 59 

a historical sketch of 58 

10 



218 GENERAL INDEX. 

New Orleans, view of, 58 

inundated and abandoned in 1719, 59 

again occupied in 1722, ib 

visited by a hurricane in 1723, 60 

by yellow fever in 1769, 62 

divided into wards and lighted in 1792, 64 

fortified by Carondelet, ib 

its military strength, ib 

opened to the United States in 1795, ... 65 

a port of entry and delivery in 1804, ... 66 

incorporated in 1805, ib 

its extent in 1810, ib 

its appearance from various points, 69 

lighted with gas in 1834, 70 

state of its morals, 78 

its commercial advantages, 81 

its anticipated greatness, , 84 

Reading Rooms, 161-2 

Police,.' 78 

travelling routes, 201 

Newspaper Press, 173 

first published in 1794, 25 

Olden Time, 184 

Old Ursuline Convent, 103 

Opelousas Prairie, 39 

hospit ality of the inhabitants, 40 

Opposition to founding New Orleans, 59 

Orange trees introduced, 20 

destroyed by frost in 1748, ib 

O'Reilly, the Spanish governor, 23 

his tyrannical conduct, ib 

succeeded by Unzoga, 24 

Orleans Cotton Press, 152 

Theatre, 176 



GENERAL INDEX, 219 

Orphan Asylums, their excellence, 110 

Paintings, National Gallery of, 169 

individual collections of, 170 

Paving of streets first began, 67 

Pensacola taken by the French, 19 

People's Lyceum, 167 

Physic, Law and Divinity, their progress, 79 

Pine woodlands, 30 

Place d' Amies, 182 

Planing Mill, steam, 151 

Plaquemine, 32 

Planters' Hotel, 143 

Ponce de Leon, 9 

Pontchartrain Rail-road , 192 

Population in 1732, 20 

in 1788, 25 

in 1803, 26 

of New Orleans in 1723, 59 

in 1785, 62 

in 1803, 70 

in 1810, 66 

in 1844, 71 

comparative, ib 

Police of New Orleans, 78 

Post Office, 90 

Pottery may be made of Louisiana clay, 57 

Poydras Female Orphan Asylum, 113 

street Market, 136 

Prairies of the State, 30 

particularly described, ib 

Prairie, Attakapas, 33 38 

Opelousas, 39 

Bellevue, 40 

Prairie, Calcasieu, .,,,,,,.. 40 



220 GENERAL INDEX. 

Prairie, Sabine, 40 

Press of New Orleans, 173 

Presbyterian Church, First, 100 

Second, 101 

Project of supplying wholesome water, 148 

Prospects of New Orleans, 82 

Prosperity of trade in 1810, 66 

Protestant Cemetery, 108 

Public buildings, 86 

libraries much wanted, 79 

property transferred to the United States, 65 

Public School system, 163 

how introduced, ib 

Public School Lyceum, 166 

Squares, 181 

Race Courses, 195 

Raft in Red River, 36 

Rail-road, Pontchartrain, 192 

Carrolton, 191 

Mexican Gulf, 193 

Reading Room, Merchants', 161 

New Orleans, 162 

Red River deposite, its nature, 34 

raft, 36 

Residence of Governor Bienville, 189 

Road of Bayou St. John, 194 

Rope Walks, 151 

Sabine Prairies, 40 

Salvado, last Spanish governor, 26 

Samaritan Charitable Association, 114 

Sauville, the Governor, dies, 17 

Saw Mills, steam, 151 

School, Convent, 44 

Sistersof Charity, ib 



GENERAL INDEX. 221 

School, Ursuline Nuns', 44 

Schools, the Public, ib 

Second Presbyterian Church, 101 

Municipality Work House, 130 

Hall, 127 

Sheep of Louisiana, very superior, 56 

Lafourche, ib 

Shell Road, 192 

Silk may be produced in abundance, 53 

Society in New Orleans, 73 

Soil of Louisiana, 29 

State (if Louisiana described, 28 

State Legislature to be removed, 92 

House, 91 

Steamboat first arrives from Pittsburg, 27 

Steamboats, early, their trips, 80 

extent of present navigation, 83 

Steam Planing Mill, 151 

Saw Mills', ib 

Streets and sidewalks first paved, 67 

St. Augustine Church, 96 

St. Patrick's do, 95 

Cemetery, 109 

St. Paul's Church, 99 

St. Antoine's, or Mortuary Chapel, 97 

St. Charles Exchange Hotel, 137 

St. Louis Exchange Hotel, 143 

St. Mary's Market, 137 

(St. Louis,) City Exchange, 157 

St. Charles Theatre, 178 

St. Lorenzo, treaty of, 25 

St. Bernard bay occupied by La Salle, 15 

Sugar introduced by the Jesuits in 1751, 21 

crops their present average, ib 



222 GENERAL INDEX. 

Sugar lands, 46 

refinery, 151 

Suggestion to sugar planters, 46 

Surface of Louisiana, 29 

Tax upon chimneys to light New Orleans, 64 

Teche, excellent lands upon its borders, 33 

Territory of Louisiana, its boundaries, 7 

its discovery byde Soto, , 10 

its immense extent, 8 

transfered to Spain in 1763, 22 

Theatre American 1823, 67 

Orleans, 176 

St. Charles, 178 

"The Coast," its extent and luxuriance, 31 

Third Municipality Work house, , 133 

Tobacco Cuba, cultivated, , 54 

from Cuba, fine specimens of seed, lb 

raised at Natchitoches, ib 

vv^orm hov^^ to prevent it, 55 

Transfer of Louisiana to Spain, 22 

Transfer of Louisiana to the United States in 1803, . 26 

Travelling Routes, 201 

Tyrannical conduct of O'Reilly, 23 

United States Marine Hospital, 125 

Barracks, 86 

Branch Bank, established in 1805, 66 

Mint, 88 

University of Louisiana, see note, 43 

Unzoga succeeds O'Reilly as governor, 24 

succeeded by Galvez, ib 

Ursuline Convent, the old, 103 

Ursuline Chapel, 98 

nuns arrived in 1730, 60 

erect a new convent in 1824, 104 



GENERAL INDEX. 223 

Vaudreuil marquis de, 20 

Variety of the population of New Orleans, 73 

Vegetable Market, 136 

Verandah, 141 

View of New Orleans from various points, 69 

Vine, cultivation of the, 55 

War between France and Spain, 19 

England and France, in 1756, 21 

do and Spain, in 1779, 24 

do and the United States, 27 

Watchmen first established in 1792, 64 

Water, a project to supply it without charge, 148 

Water Works, supply water from the Mississippi,.. 70 

a description of them, 146 

Washington Square, 181 

Wesleyan Chapel, 103 

Western Company, chartered in 1717, 17 

fail,inl732, 20 

West Feliciana, its excellent soil, >.. 32 

Wilkinson, Gen., 26 

Woods, Col. crosses the Mississippi, 13 

Workhouse of the Second Municipality, 130 

Third do, / 133 

Yellow fever first introduced in 1769, 62 

Yellow Fever, opinions of its transmissibility, 121 

No. of cases in Hospital from 1822 ,to 1844,. 120 

Young Men's, Howard Association, 115 

Literary do, 167 



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